Can this be accurate?

[Vinman75]

A question: I have been cycling my tank with rock and live sand for a couple of weeks now and been testing the water using the Red Sea Marine Lab 5 in 1 test kit. Very strange in that both the ammonia and the Nitrite have spiked, and the Nitrite is now down to zero and the Nitrate has increased, yet it is still showig ammonia. The test kit says supposed to be yellow for zero ammonia but I am still getting a light green (.25) Can this be right? Does anyone have experience with that testing kit? I thought Nitrite wouldn't go down to zero if there was still ammoia? MAkes me think something with the results?

 

[snowmaker]

I would not be too concerned. This is probably normal for a 2 week old set up.

 

[JayM]

you're going to have varying levels of all three until the system reaches a chemical equilibrium....so it's probably accurate....especially only 2 weeks in.

Kudos to you for having the patience to cycle the system....you are setting yourself up for success in the hobby.

 

[Bill Nye]

Depending on how cured your live rock was when you bought it, your cycle could take up to two months. I bought LR from Coral Reef when I set my tank up, and they have very cured live rock with a fish swimming around in the tank. I only got a nitrate spike during my cycle, and it was gone after about 1 or 2 weeks. I still waited a month before adding anything though.

 

[Vinman75]

thanks/questions

Thanks for the help and info. Just want to quadruple check that what I am doing is right. Now about 3 weeks into the cycle process with the live sand added in. During the 3 weeks, I have not done any water changes and have not had the protein skimmer running. As I understand, I am just supposed to have the powerheads going to get the water movement and of course the heater but not the filter (MAgnum 350) or the protein skimmer. Is this correct? Just supposed to let the water chemistry work out on it's own? with the ammonia and nitrite spiking and then lowering and the Nitrate goes up and then I start doing water changes and get the skimmer going. Is this correct?

 

[JohnK]

If you already have a skimmer, start running it.