Cycle question?

[toku58]

I'm on my 2nd week of my tanks cycle. I had Ammonia readings of 3.7 on Friday, yesterday was 2.4 after I added some sand, and today it's 1.2 But so far No nitrite, or nitrate??

What is making the Ammonia go down? Shouldn't the Nitrite be going up?

[toku58]

Any idea's?

[Uncle Salty 05]

Yes, as ammonia goes down nitrites should begin to rise, it may take a few days.

[Mr. Limpid]

So you are saying you have 0 readings on your nitrate and nitrites? What are you using start the cycling?

[toku58]

So you are saying you have 0 readings on your nitrate and nitrites? What are you using start the cycling?

There's been a piece of shrimp in the tank for a while now.

Can the Ammonia go down to zero without Nitrites, or Nitrates? Would my tank be cycled?

[TigerInATrance]

What else is in the tank? Are you cycling with cured live rock? A fresh bottle of Dr. Tim's or BioSpira? Even with either or both of those, I am certain you would see some spike in nitrites and nitrates, even if only a small one...

[Uncle Salty 05]

No, ammonia cannot go to zero without producing nitrites.
Nitrites cannot reach zero without producing nitrates.
The whole process will take 3-6 weeks.

[Mr. Limpid]

like Uncle Salty said, can't happen. what are you testing with to get 0 readings. I would double check.

[toku58]

I'll give it a few days and see if the Nitrites start to appear? If not? I'll try a different test kit to see if that is my issue?

[Secondsbest]

Are you using activated carbon, or filter pads that may have carbon in them? That would reduce ammonia without a cycle.

[toku58]

Are you using activated carbon, or filter pads that may have carbon in them? That would reduce ammonia without a cycle.

Yes! I have a carbon bag in my sump. I'll remove it later today when I get home.
Thanks for the insight!

[stingeragent]

Cycles are hard to fully understand. I cycled my first tank with 20lbs of fully cured LR. Highest my ammonia ever went was like .50 ppm, and every time I tested for nitrites it always read 0. Nitrates were also 0 for about a week. Into the 2nd week, ammonia was 0 and nitrities were still 0, and the nitrates slowly went up. The whole cycle I never picked up nitrites. Don't know if it just went through that piece real quick or what, but 2 months later all is good .

[Uncle Salty 05]

What you experienced was a soft cycle.
Meaning that ammonia levels never got very high, which is fine. A soft cycle is still a cycle, but the carrying capacity of the tank is low in the beginning.
Addition of fish and inverts must be done slowly and carefully.
A hard cycle where ammoina levels reach 3-5 ppm will produce nitrifying bacteria in much greater numbers and increase the tanks carrying capacity, making additions less risky and allowing you to decrease intervals between early additions.