Honestly, it is quite simple...the most important thing is test & be patient.
- Make sure you have bio-pellets so the good bacteria can live and grow
- Dose bacteria
- Add ammonia until it reaches 2.0 ppm
- And wait and wait and be patient until ammonia hits 0 ppm
- Some reefers will dose again just to make sure, really personal preference
If you do it right, usually the cycle should be done within a month. At this stage, your nitrate should increase quite a bit so a water change is recommended.