Need help on cycling

[brandontzr]

Hi fellow reefers,

Been cycling my tank for quite some time and currently the reading is Ammonia: 0.25, Nitrite: 0 and Nitrate: 2.5(low range). From what i understand, i have to wait till Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0 and Nitrate: at least something, then the cycle is complete. Mine is kind of weird so would like to seek good advice from fellow reefers. Thanks!

[comycus]

To answer your question better, how long has your cycling process been? Did you add any bacteria, fish food, or market prawn to kick start the cycling process?

Also how old are your test kits? Are they past expiry?

[brandontzr]

To answer your question better, how long has your cycling process been? Did you add any bacteria, fish food, or market prawn to kick start the cycling process?

Also how old are your test kits? Are they past expiry?

Cycling for 2 weeks. i added bacteria and fish food. as for test kits, i can't find the expiry date. Been sharing this set with a friend, so we getting diff results, so i suppose the test kits are okay. i think so la lol

[Terryz_]

First, double check your testkit if it is spoilt..

If not it might be a ammonia spike, dun worry eventually it will go down to 0 again...

As long as Ammonia and Nitrite is 0.. It is safe to start stocking..

At the end of 1 month, yo can do a test..

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0...

[brandontzr]

Icic so it's okay if Nitrite is zero and Nitrate has a little and Ammonia still not zero. Sorry still a newbie so a bit confuse whether i'm still on track. Thanks guys for the prompt answers.

[comycus]

Icic so it's okay if Nitrite is zero and Nitrate has a little and Ammonia still not zero. Sorry still a newbie so a bit confuse whether i'm still on track. Thanks guys for the prompt answers.

Just another round of bacteria growth. Sit it out

[brandontzr]

Oh so meaning i have to wait for another round of bacteria growth to bring down the the Ammonia to 0? eh so im still on track?

[Terryz_]

Oh so meaning i have to wait for another round of bacteria growth to bring down the the Ammonia to 0? eh so im still on track?

Yeah, you are just right on track...

[brandontzr]

lucky. haha i thought something is wrong. anyway thanks! fellow reefer.

Enjoy reefing!

[brandontzr]

Hi guys.. seriously need help! Been cycling my tank for 2 weeks plus and ammonia reading was maybe 0.1 but today its 2.5. i seriously cannot figure out what could have cause the spike as i didnt make any changes to the tank. THanks!

[raydiative]

you cycling with your LR in your tank? potentially organism in your LR may have died causing such a spike...

well its very fortunate that you are still cycling your tank and you do not have any LS and would not die..

unfortunately this spike would kick start the whole cycling process again and you would have to wait longer..

HTH.. =]

[brandontzr]

ya cycling with LR. oh man u mean another cycle? i'm going crazy with the waiting thought its going to be done soon. . what can cause the organisms to die? any ways i can do to fasten the process? anyway thanks for your fast response

[raydiative]

well to begin with there may not be any "food source" for this organisms... dosing bacteria would help but not much too.. be patient bro! you have a long way ahead to chiong LFS... hahaha..

[brandontzr]

icic. another question bro. i'm i suppose to leave my skimmer on or off? read a few articles, soem saying off some saying on. so dunno who is right?

[raydiative]

i would leave it on.. just in case theres anything to skim.. lol..

there should not be any right or wrong.. just personal preference i would say..

[xaine]

Have you been constantly adding more fishfood ? It seemed that the decomposition of that might have caused the bacteria not to catch up with the rate of the decay.

Did you notice any die offs from when you introduced the live rocks ?

Cycling is a process of patience, so it the aquatic hobby

[brandontzr]

icic okay i will go on it now. anyway thanks bro ray. was thinking going LFS tomorrow to buy fish, previously was almost done. haha been to LFS a few times always seeing friends buy fishes n i cant buy haha

[raydiative]

icic okay i will go on it now. anyway thanks bro ray. was thinking going LFS tomorrow to buy fish, previously was almost done. haha been to LFS a few times always seeing friends buy fishes n i cant buy haha

chill man.. if you chiong too fast your tank will fill up fast too and you will not have space for corals next time.. lol..

take this time to do more research on what corals and fishes you would want to and more importantly CAN keep.. this way you will not waste $$ or potentially kill any LS too...

HTH!

[brandontzr]

hi bro xaine. i cycled the first day with the LR already in. cycled all together. thought this is the way. is it wrong? or its okay? haha so much more to learn about marine hobby. i did nt add anythiung more into the tank during this cycling period.

[brandontzr]

yeah bro ray. realise since i took up this hobby, im way more patience than b4 haha. so how long will this second cycling take? like roughly? hee

[raydiative]

hi bro xaine. i cycled the first day with the LR already in. cycled all together. thought this is the way. is it wrong? or its okay? haha so much more to learn about marine hobby. i did nt add anythiung more into the tank during this cycling period.

cycling with LR is ok.. just that most of the time the organisim in the LR may die off thus the "LIVE" part will no longer apply.. overtime adding corals would add these organism back again...

yeah bro ray. realise since i took up this hobby, im way more patience than b4 haha. so how long will this second cycling take? like roughly? hee

Lol.. sadly... another 4-6 weeks.. great test of your patience.. but do note that if you dun finish cycling and add any fishes and if they eventually die, it will just kick start the cycle all over again.. aka 4 - 6 more weeks!

[xaine]

Yes, you just can't rush with this. Else it would be more painful if it's done wrongly.

[brandontzr]

haha no choice, just be good and cycle. hey bro ray and xaine thanks so much eh. will ask u more if im not sure.

[CFOh]

hi bro xaine. i cycled the first day with the LR already in. cycled all together. thought this is the way. is it wrong? or its okay? haha so much more to learn about marine hobby. i did nt add anythiung more into the tank during this cycling period.

Hi, Pls find below Nitrigen Cycle Animation.... Just keep monitor and follow the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate profile shown in the pics..... To make sure "Stressful" and "toxic" stage over....

Cheers and Happy Reefing.....

[brandontzr]

Thanks bro CFoh. previously it was like the animation. almost done. but today testing suddenly there is a spike in ammonia haha. sian