Paramters during cycle?

[Dricker18]

I was just wondering, what should my parameters be like during the cycling period. I added the salt and live rock about 2 1/2 days ago, and then I decided to re-aquascape it because I did not like how it was setup. Now I am satisfied with the layout of the rocks, and am not going to stir/cloud up the water anymore.

Today I put a sprinkle of old freshwater fish flakes that was laying around, I figured that it would help jump start the nitrogen cycle.


Unfortunately my in-tank heater stopped working the day I put the salt, sand, and LR in the tank so now I have the salinity perfect (1.025/1.026) the filters running with fresh media, an overpowered 50 gallon powerhead, but no heater. So until my new one comes in the mail my tank is about 69 degrees. I ordered two just in case it happens again.


My tank is a 36 gallon Bowfront by the way.
-Nitrite- 0
-Nitrate- 0
-PH seems to be about 8
-Hardness about 180
-I do not own anything that measures ammonia, I thought it was included in the 5 in 1 test strips

Where should my parameters be at this stage.

 

[Azedenkae]

It could be anything. But the aim is to get ammonia and nitrite to zero. And nitrate too, depending. Even phosphate, again depending.

You need to check your ammonia. It is essential.

Right now assuming ammonia is also zero, you need to test your filtrative capacity, either with foodstuff or pure ammonia like with Dr. Tim's.

 

[mikedavid]

nice forum there is interesting topics.

 

[scooter31707]

At this stage, you shouldn't see any numbers unless you used live rock. If you used dry rock you shouldn't see any parameters. I recommend getting a raw shrimp and put in the tank and let it start decaying. Let it stay in there until your ammonia gets to 2.0ppm. At that point you will see a increase in nirites, once they get high, you will see an increase in nirates. Once the nirates goes down you can test by putting in pure ammonia up to 2ppm and it should be at 0 in 24hrs. if so, then the tank is cycled.

 

[Dricker18]

I did use LR, I used about 13lbs of live rock and 19 lbs of regular rock. I sprinkled some fish food in last night, I need to buy some ammonia test strips today. Will the bacteria still grow even though my tank is 69 degrees.