New tank 12g ammonia and ph issues =(

[Ogi]

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I have a new tank, roughly a week old with live sand and i bought rock from my local store full of life. I did my first water test today and my ammonia is at roughly 2 and my ph at 7.6. What should i do, is the rock just cycling? coralline algae seems to be thriving.

I have a power head cycling the water which is rated for a 20 gallon tank i also have a hob filter with activated carbon.

[azcrazy]

Can be that your cycle is starting and the algae have to eat the ammonia to turn into nitrites and then nitrates to do the cycle

[tennesseebob]

I agree, your tank hasn't cycled yet

[Mg4life0331]

It's not cycled. When I was doing this, I would dose my tank to 4ppm ammonia. Eventually nitrites boomed and then the nitrates. Nothing abnormal going on.

[Ogi]

Awesome thanks guys

[Ogi]

one last question, should i leave my lighting on or off?

[azcrazy]

i have my light turn on for 12hrs(i think im at the end of my cycle) some i have read they have them for 15 hrs but i think is your choice

[Dkuhlmann]

Yes your tank is now cycling. Lighting makes no difference in the cycle. I let my lights run the programmed period that I would normally run, but it's not necessary.