cycle question

[thenewguy997]

I put in fresh LR 80lbs on april 10th into my 75g. Ive been ghost feeding tetra microcrabs.

I use rodi water.

i dont have an ammonia test but my nitrites are and have been zero since i first tested last week and my nitrates went from 0 to 10 to now 20

Whats this mean, why no nitrites??

 

[bertoni]

Live rock comes with bacteria, so predicting what's going to show up on test kits is difficult. I wouldn't worry much. Most likely, the rock just came with enough nitrite-consuming bacteria to keep up with the load.

 

[thenewguy997]

So when i show all 0's my cycle is done?

 

[bertoni]

When the ammonia has been zero for a week or so, it's likely safe to start adding hardier animals. Nitrate won't harm fish or most invertebrates. Stony corals might not tolerate it as well.

 

[ArmyGreens]

Bacterial cycle takes ammonia and it's waste product is nitrite, then nitrite to nitrate. Healthy cultures of bacteria can convert toxics with in hours, aside from nitrate, which can take months to grow with out any other form of export. Sounds like your ready for a water change and can start acclimation of captives.

 

[thenewguy997]

Bacterial cycle takes ammonia and it's waste product is nitrite, then nitrite to nitrate. Healthy cultures of bacteria can convert toxics with in hours, aside from nitrate, which can take months to grow with out any other form of export. Sounds like your ready for a water change and can start acclimation of captives.

Oh wow, i didnt know it happened that quickly i thought ammonia took weeks to clear out. Im guessing from what ive read its weeks that take the BACTERIA to build up. Now i understand.


Thanks for the help you guys thats great news!