Cycle: 2 week checkpoint

[ReefNole]

Hi all,

I'm at the (roughly) halfway point for the cycle, exactly 2 weeks in and the water parameters are:

• Ammonia: 2.0 ppm
• Nitrite: 5.0 ppm
• Nitrate: 5.0 ppm

Just want to make sure everything is going swimmingly :thumbsup:

I have been cycling with a raw shrimp, which went in on Day 2, and remains a puffy pink ball on the substrate. It seems to be doing a job clouding my water though... Also, algae is starting to show in spots around the tank in the form of brown & green spots with little shoots of hair. Most likely the beginnings of some GHA (probably have some phos. since I started with dry rock & sand).

Just a couple check-in questions based on where I am:

1. When should I remove the raw shrimp from the tank?
2. Could this algae turn into a nuissance? There is nothing in the tank and I have no problem turning the lights off for days if that would help
3. Are the above params, cloudy water, and GHA sprouts par for the course at this point?
4. And at this point, since I'm not dosing ammonia outside of the shrimp (and I am relying on the LFS for testing so I don't waste money on API or waste a nicer test kit on daily tests during the cycle), if I test 2 times a week, what is my signal that the cycle is most likely complete?

BONUS QUESTION: My LFS is selling 5-gallon buckets of Red Sea Coral Pro salt (I think this is the 175 gallon mix) for $60. Worth it, or are there any concerns about the quality of this salt?

Thanks in advance! Almost time for something that moves!

 

[ZeeSparrow]

1. I think you can remove the shrimp now. It's done its job generating ammonia. Now you just need to let the bacteria eat it up.
2. It could, but you're likely to get some algae anyway. The bacteria doesn't need the light so you can turn it off if you want. Might help.
3. Pretty much. I didn't have cloudy water, but I didn't have a dead shrimp rotting in my tank either.
4. Cycle is 'complete' when ammonia and nitrite are both zero. Although it's commonly suggested to bring ammonia back up to 1 or 2 ppm, and verify everything is processed (back to zero) after 24 hours.

BONUS: I don't know of any concerns. Here is a comparison chart of different salt mixes.

 

[ReefNole]

Thanks for the update ZeeSparrow,

I'll remove the shrimp and cut the lights for the weekend. And the waiting continues...

Also, thanks for that link about all the mixes. I searched the forum for "Red Sea Coral Pro", but only got differing arguments about it's quality.

Thanks again!

 

[gone fishin]

I agree with zeesparrow. I can't help with your bonus question I have always used Instant ocean, just my habit. I do know many folks use the red sea salt.

 

[vhuang168]

I'm using RSCP. Just be aware that it is a high parameter salt. Meaning it mixes out with high levels of alk/mag/ca.

My alk level in a fresh batch is 12. Mag is 1420, CA is 460. If these are not the levels you want to keep then look for a salt that mixes out to what you want rather than get a salt that doesn't match and add additives or dose to match what you want.

Most do not want alk that high, the 'normal' suggestion is 8-9 iirc.