Cycling tank questions

[Jakeem]

Been 4 days into my cycle, doing a raw shrimp method, after 2 days of the initial start of the cycle ammonia levels were 2ppm with nitrite being 3ppm
2 days later after a 30% water change, the ammonia dropped to 1 ppm and nitrite to 2 with nitrate at 30ppm

And today being ammonia 1ppm, nitrite 2ppm nitrate 20ppm

Is it normal to have nitrite that early into the cycle?

Ive read people usually start seeing nitrite after 7 days
Unfortunately i dont know the ph of my water and i will be getting a ph test kit soon

 

[shaginwagon13]

Cycling tank questions

Your not supposed to do a water change until your cycle is complete; which is approx. 4-6 weeks on average but you need to test to make sure.

After the cycle is done I do a 50% water change, add a CUC and your on your way to months of algae blooms until your water parameters settle and your tank starts to break itself in [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

You can do water changes if you want but in general most people don't until the cycle is over..

Your tank seems to be cycling just fine..

There is no perfect X on day Y,etc.... and all tanks are different..
As soon as there is ammonia what little bacteria there is in the tank starts to process it into the next form which is nitrites.. then into nitrates...
The bacterial levels grow and that process happens faster and faster..

Everything is fine... Welcome to a saltwater tank..
Once ammonia and nitrite levels go to zero your tank is considered cycled and thats when people typically start doing water changes to reduce nitrate levels if/as needed..

and FYI... In general don't worry about PH.. You can cause more problems trying to achieve a perfect PH level vs jut letting it be what its going to be..
So don't get fooled into buying PH buffers,etc... just let it be..

 

[Jakeem]

I was hesitant on doing a water change but i ended up doing it because the tank started to have a strong bad odor, thank you all for the replies

 

[mcgyvr]

The odor is pretty common too.. It will pass..