Cycle stalled

[gramps13]

I have been a member of this site for some time and other than introducing myself after registering I haven't posted on here for some time. I started the cycle on a 40G breeder on Nov. 16th with a deli shrimp. I am running the tank without a sump. I have a Reef Octopus BH1000 HOB skimmer,Jebao WP25, Cobalt Aquatics 150w heater(set at 78), 50lbs of dry rock from reefcleaners and 40lbs of Caribsea Special Grade dry sand. I seeded the rock with small live rock purchased from a LFS. Now here is the problem. I got talked into trying some Nutrifin cycle and I believe that is what stalled the cycle. When I started testing 5 days after the addition of the shrimp, I registered 2ppm of ammonia. A couple of days later I showed .5 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 20 ppm nitrate. Tested 2 days later and my ammonia was showing 0, nitrite and nitrate both zero as well????? I am stumped as to where the nitrate went as I was waiting until the cycle was complete to do a water change. Plus I knew ahead of time that the cycle would take several weeks due to the dry rock and sand. I have tried to bring up the ammonia level to restart it and the ammonia drops but I still do not register nitrite or nitrate. I figure this is a result of the Nutrifin cycle :headwally:. I am assuming my only option here is to due a massive water change and start from scratch. I am currently going through a major diatom bloom and starting to get hair algae as well. I just wanted to get your thoughts on this.
Thanks

 

[xanthurum]

How are you testing, it could be your cycle is done and your testing for nitrate incorrectly. Algae needs something to grow so I am willing to bet you have high nitrates or phosphates or both.

 

[gramps13]

I use an API reefmaster test kit. I will be getting the Salifert tests soon but for now this is it. I also have a BRS media reactor filled with carbon/GFO soon to be online. I thought maybe it was my test kit but I did register high nitrates a couple of weeks ago then like I said, two days later it registered zero. I tossed in another shrimp two days ago and I will see what happens. This is the first time I used dry rock and I didn't expect it to cycle this fast. My last tank was a 12 gallon nano cube and I started it with live rock. Unfortunately, I gave all of my live rock and livestock back to LFS because I was moving out of state and was not going to be able to set the new or old tank up for a couple of days so started over fresh.

 

[whosurcaddie]

I used dry rock and I cycled with microbacter 7 and pure ammonia. Took about 6 weeks which is pretty standard. I don't really understand how your nitrate just disappeared nutrifin doesn't remove nitrates almost nothing does only a water change.??

 

[whosurcaddie]

Try banging the api nitrate bottle against your hand really hard sometimes the crystals can get stuck at the bottom.

 

[gramps13]

I will try that. I usually shake the bottles up before use but it may have settled.

 

[gramps13]

Well banged the bottles around and shook the heck out of em and still registering a zero. I think I'm just gonna do a huge water change and start over. Thanks for the replys

 

[Potsy]

The algae is likely consuming any nitrate before it can register on a test kit. If you have algae, you also have nitrate.