Cycle...Think I am done or need to wait

[Gunsnroses]

Started my Cycle in my 180 gallon aquarium on March 16th.
Around April the 21st, I moved alot of rocks around in my tank.
Before the move, my test showed,
Ammonia .50
Nitrite .0
Nitrate .40

After the rock movement my test showed 0 across the board.
On April the 26th, I re-dosed 40ml of ammonia to the tank.
Here is the results from April 26th to now.
.......Ammonia.......Nitrite...Nitrate
26th........05............0......0
27th..........5..........25......0
28th..........4..........05......0
29th..........2.........1.0......0
30th..........1..........05......40
1st .........05..........25......80
2nd ........ 0............0......80

So thats where I stand right now.
Should I go ahead with the water change and start deciding on a few fish?
Should I wait another week before the water change?
Or should I re-dose with half the amount of ammonia (20ml) and see if that is gone in a few days to see if the tank is really cycled?

 

[scott3569]

to me it looks like thats here I want to be, I am at About you 30th date..with my readings..

Are you Qting your fish?? if so yes go ahead and get them in qt, and then get some CUC in your tank After water change...

If not Do you water change get your CUC and then hold off on any fish let the CUC have a bit of time and you might see your levels go up you might not..just do add to quickly

 

[MinnFish]

If not Do you water change get your CUC and then hold off on any fish let the CUC have a bit of time and you might see your levels go up you might not..just do add to quickly

Why advise to add a CUC, without a food source. Depending on the size of CUC, they will starve. Usually, you will wait until a diatom bloom. Then, you can add a CUC. If, you have no algae. Then, you can add your first fish.

 

[Gunsnroses]

That was going to be my next question.
I do not have my permanent light set up yet and I have only been using 3 eighteen inch actinic bulbs just to illuminate the tank. So I have no algae in the main tank.
I have two 5600k bulbs in my 50 gallon fuge. Now in there, I have a small amount of brown spots on the sand. Nothing on the rocks or the glass.
So a clean up crew, I guess, would be point less at this time....

 

[Stolireef]

I'd give it a week with some very very very light ghost feeding (a small pinch of flake will do fine). Assuming your levels stay constant, you'd be ready for your first fish. What lighting are you planning on?

 

[Stolireef]

As far as a CUC is concerned, if you ghost feed, you could add a few small hermits and some small snails.

 

[Stolireef]

I'd also do a couple of big water changes now. That'll help get your nitrates down.

 

[Gunsnroses]

Not 100% sure on lighting yet.
I was originally going with an 60" ATI 8 bulb to set up.
Then I was introduced to LED. I really like the look of the Kessils, but I would need at least 4 of them.
So I am researching Reef breeders right now.

 

[Stolireef]

Look at the AI Hydra 52 and the Ecotech Radion. Not cheap but both are top of the line.

 

[Gunsnroses]

I have looked at those, but I would need 3 each of those. And I'm not ready to drop $2000.00 on lights just yet.

 

[Stolireef]

Don't blame you but that's kind of the nature of the hobby. Better off buying what you want from the beginning.

 

[scott3569]

MY bad, I did not mean to advise to put a CUC in with out a food source, I am still pretty new so..I am making a few mistakes here and there

 

[Gunsnroses]

This may be a stupid question, but can you ghost feed freshwater fish food in the saltwater aquarium?
I have a bunch of freshwater flake food I am not using.