First Nano cycle question

[alford35]

I just got a 16 gallon nuvo nano and added about 15 lbs live sand, 8lbs live cured rock, and 10lbs semi cured LR on first day.

After everything settled I added 1 crabclaw and one large raw shrimp. I left them in there for 36hrs then removed.

Tested the water 1 day later and had ammonia levels of around .5 so figured was on right track.

Now 5 days total since set the tank up I have the following readings

Ammonia .2 or so
Nitrite 0
Nitrate .2-.25


Did I somehow miss the nitrite spike? I figured it would take a day or two for it to show up but now that there are nitrates in there I must have already had it, correct?

Just want to make sure I am not missing something going on here as I have never setup such a small tank.

 

[WmHampton]

I do not know any technicalities on this. When I set up my 29g biocube there was a similar occurrence. All of the levels had small traces show up. After about a week the ammonia heavily spiked and you could easily watch the cycle take place. Ended up being two months before all was said and done...

Do not know if that helps but I would confidently say the nitrite spike hasn't come yet. I would try and get the ammonia up higher .2 is really low.

In my experience the bigger the cycle the more stable the tank will be when you start adding the live stock.

 

[reef1906]

I'm new here as well. Just be patient, the ammonia spike will come later but I'm not sure if the dead shrimp method will work but hey let me know how it works. I may use that method on my next tank.

 

[alford35]

I'm new here as well. Just be patient, the ammonia spike will come later but I'm not sure if the dead shrimp method will work but hey let me know how it works. I may use that method on my next tank.

I've always cycled my tanks with raw seafood and threw in some fish food the first couple days to get the cycle started, but I've always had a bunch of live rock and live sand each time as well. Will just keep testing the water and see whats going on as I'm in no hurry since am setting up my 200+g system right now too. I moved last year and built a fish room to house the larger tank for an in wall setup. All the construction is now finished so am setting up my tanks.

 

[alford35]

I do not know any technicalities on this. When I set up my 29g biocube there was a similar occurrence. All of the levels had small traces show up. After about a week the ammonia heavily spiked and you could easily watch the cycle take place. Ended up being two months before all was said and done...

Do not know if that helps but I would confidently say the nitrite spike hasn't come yet. I would try and get the ammonia up higher .2 is really low.

In my experience the bigger the cycle the more stable the tank will be when you start adding the live stock.

Yeah the highest ammonia level so far has only been a little over .5 so something happened since there are now nitrates for sure. But, I'm like you, I think there is more to come. No hurry so will see what happens.

 

[WmHampton]

Did the ammonia spike for you yet?