RushReefer2112
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As sandandturf said, don't even worry about the params for a few more weeks and start researching the livestock you'd like to put in. He said it pretty straight forward and accurate IMO. Cycling a tank from scratch takes time. Once you see a diatom outbreak, you should start testing nitrite. If you have ammonia, the cycle is still in progress. Learn about the nitrogen cycle, I'll try to explain it the best I can, but would still advise you research it.
Ammonia-->Nitrite-->Nitrate
Cycling the tank is the introduction of nitrifying bacteria. This bacteria eats ammonia and in result expels nitrite. Once that bacteria consumes all the ammonia, there should be tons of nitrite in the water. In addition, there is another type of bacteria that consumes nitrite and expels nitrate. This is really where the cycle is coming to an end and why I say to test nitrite once you see the diatom outbreak. Once the cycle is finished, you'll have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and some nitrate. Which the nitrate is pulled out through macroalgaes and physical cleaning of your tank (siphoning sand bed/blowing dust off your rocks/etc.)
I'd recommend using an additive nitrifying bacteria to speed up the process (if you haven't already). I'd recommend using the bigger bottle of Fritz Zyme 9.
Tips about upgrading or starting new tank:
Good thing is, you only have to go through it once! 6 months ago, I upgraded tanks from an 80 that was running for 6 years to a 120. I took the majority of the water from that tank and topped it off with newly mixed water. Added the rocks out of the 80 and put in about half the marco rock that has been in a trashcan for nearly 3 years by itself. That rock has TONS of bacteria. I'd always buy new sand though. In fact, earlier today I did a water change from the 120 into a new 40g breeder I'm setting up. Used the rocks from the trashcan along with the water and caulerpa from my tank. I won't have to cycle the tank. I'll get the salinity and temp in check and then I'll put in a fish for a month to grow the algae. For a few months, I'll do a water change on my 120g, take that water and do a water change on my 40g. Then I'll eventually start doing independent water changes. It's that simple to add a new system or upgrade if you ever want to.
Ammonia-->Nitrite-->Nitrate
Cycling the tank is the introduction of nitrifying bacteria. This bacteria eats ammonia and in result expels nitrite. Once that bacteria consumes all the ammonia, there should be tons of nitrite in the water. In addition, there is another type of bacteria that consumes nitrite and expels nitrate. This is really where the cycle is coming to an end and why I say to test nitrite once you see the diatom outbreak. Once the cycle is finished, you'll have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and some nitrate. Which the nitrate is pulled out through macroalgaes and physical cleaning of your tank (siphoning sand bed/blowing dust off your rocks/etc.)
I'd recommend using an additive nitrifying bacteria to speed up the process (if you haven't already). I'd recommend using the bigger bottle of Fritz Zyme 9.
Tips about upgrading or starting new tank:
Good thing is, you only have to go through it once! 6 months ago, I upgraded tanks from an 80 that was running for 6 years to a 120. I took the majority of the water from that tank and topped it off with newly mixed water. Added the rocks out of the 80 and put in about half the marco rock that has been in a trashcan for nearly 3 years by itself. That rock has TONS of bacteria. I'd always buy new sand though. In fact, earlier today I did a water change from the 120 into a new 40g breeder I'm setting up. Used the rocks from the trashcan along with the water and caulerpa from my tank. I won't have to cycle the tank. I'll get the salinity and temp in check and then I'll put in a fish for a month to grow the algae. For a few months, I'll do a water change on my 120g, take that water and do a water change on my 40g. Then I'll eventually start doing independent water changes. It's that simple to add a new system or upgrade if you ever want to.
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