Where has my Ammonia gone?

[Danny N]

My 125 gallon tank has been up and running for 6 weeks. I have had several small ammonia spikes (.25-.5 ppm) and two over 1.0 ppm. Each time ammonia quickly goes away, but everything I've read says I should see an increase in Nitrite and Nitrate as well. Both have never moved. Is that normal? Sump has refugium, skimmer, and macro algae.

 

[twilliard]

No need to run a skimmer right now.
As ammonia converts to nitrites you will see this.
Now nitrites will convert to nitrates
This is the basics of a "cycle"

 

[JimWelsh]

His question is why he sees neither a nitrite spike nor a nitrate spike in the wake of an ammonia spike. Consider that 1 ppm of ammonia gets converted into 4 ppm nitrite which in turn gets converted into 3.6 ppm nitrate. Perhaps the macro algae is consuming it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, it could be the macroalgae. Many species will take up ammonia directly, and some "prefer" it to nitrate.

 

[Danny N]

So if the macro algae is consuming the ammonia before it gets to nitrite, is my tank cycled? If not, when?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So if the macro algae is consuming the ammonia before it gets to nitrite, is my tank cycled? If not, when?

It may not cycle fully in the traditional sense, but it obviously can reduce ammonia. I'd be sure to add new creatures slowly.

 

[Cory]

I consider a peiece of live rock to have enough bacteria to cycle. You could also try instant ocean bio spira if your impatient.