Ammonia low during cycle

[bryanb85]

Hello you, ive started my cycle 20 days ago. Ammonia peaked at 1 ppm with 2 peices of shrimp. Nitrites are starting to level off at .4 ppm and nitrates are already present at a steady 8 ppm (all tested with red sea marine kit)

The tank is 75 g with 75 lbs of dry uncured rock. Im trying to cycle and cure at the same time since its all new parts and peices. I know this process takes a lot longer. My biggest question, should my ammonia have reached higher levels? Should i restart the cycle by adding shrimp to SPIKE the levels or is the normal levels? Im trying to do the right things and so far its been great!

 

[morleyz]

I'm assuming your ammonia is down to 0 now or have you continued to "feed" your tank ammonia. Did you just give it the shrimp to cause the initial spike?

 

[whosurcaddie]

Your on the right track. Once your Nitrite levels fall to zero do a 50% water change and add your first fish. Wait a couple weeks for the biofilter to catch up and then add another. Good luck.

 

[bryanb85]

Just gave it the shrimp to kick start it. Is that bad? :/

 

[whosurcaddie]

I would remove the shrimp. You were already well into the cycle. Your ammonia was dropping because it was being turned into nitrite. The new shrimp will break down and add more ammonia and the end result will be higher nitrate at the end of the cycle.

Be sure to note that the more ammonia you add when cycling the more nitrate you will have at the end of your cycle.

Edit: I just want to add that two pieces of shrimp would create more ammonia than 1ppm. What you are seeing is a reduction in ammonia IE the end result of the nitrogen cycle 8ppm nitrate.

 

[phobos2deimos]

I would remove the shrimp. You were already well into the cycle. Your ammonia was dropping because it was being turned into nitrite. The new shrimp will break down and add more ammonia and the end result will be higher nitrate at the end of the cycle.

Be sure to note that the more ammonia you add when cycling the more nitrate you will have at the end of your cycle.

Edit: I just want to add that two pieces of shrimp would create more ammonia than 1ppm. What you are seeing is a reduction in ammonia IE the end result of the nitrogen cycle 8ppm nitrate.

On the other end of this, if you haven't provided enough of a bioload during cycle, and don't continue to provide a source of ammonia throughout the cycle, wouldn't you have the potential to mini-cycle (or worst case, complete cycle) upon adding fish?

 

[whosurcaddie]

No because the bio filter is established. All it needs is a continued source of ammonia in the form of fish waste.

This is why people say don't add 5 fish as soon as your tank is cycled because the bio filter needs time to catch up.