Cycling question

[Yash]

When do you know if your done cycling? What should the levels be?

 

[nuwave59]

Hi!
During the cycling, the 1st thing you see is Ammonia. It raises, raises, and start to go down. Then, bacteria transforms ammonia in nitrites, it raises raises until bacteria tranforms nitrite in nitrates. Your ready to go when :
Ammonia : 0
Nitrite : 0
Then you perform water changes until you're under 20 ppm for your nitrates, (10 ppm is better) and you're ready to go!
Do you cycle with live rock?

 

[Yash]

Yes live rock and shrimp method

 

[nuwave59]

It took 3 weeks for my cycle to complete with 50/50 base rock/live rock and the shrimp method.

 

[Yash]

Okay thanks

I have a 20 gallon with around 25 lbs live
Rock and it's been almost a month now

 

[nuwave59]

Good. You have to add shrimp when the shrimp in the tank is rotten, and nothing of it is left. When you have 0 Nitrites and Ammonia, make a big water change (50%) and your nitrates should go down. Then you add fish!