Tank not cycling!? 20 gallon long.

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dulcisveteranus

Aquarium Advice Activist
Joined
Mar 1, 2015
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This is my first saltwater tank and I was really excited to set it up. My tank has been set up for three weeks now. I only use RO water, I cant afford an RO/DI unit. I've added a cube of brine shrimp to get the cycle started. Ammonia was at 2 ppm I'm using a cheap internal filter cause I can't afford a sump (I'm 14). My temperature is set at 82, I've added dry rock, I added beach sand a week ago. I tested the sand and there were no phosphates and it did not affect my ph. There is a lot of gas exchange from my poweheads. I don't run my lights because I was told it wasn't necessary. I've been adding doses of Microbacter7 for a week now and my ammonia is still at 2 ppm, nitrites 0 ppm, nitrates 0 ppm. I'd sometimes get .25 nitrites but never nitrates. I had a temperature swing from 82 to 70 last night because someone unplugged my heater. What is going on!? I'm starting get really frustrated. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Ammonia - 2 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 0 ppm
pH - 8.4
SG - 1.025

Here are photos of the tank.
Postimage.org / gallery - IMG 0664, IMG 0665
 
Add a small piece of live rock to help kickstart the system better and then it is just a case of time I'm afraid.
 
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