Mid cycle screw up (i think)

[CloudStrife]

So when I set up my main tank, I got all my equipment at once, protein skim, filter, heater, and lights. When I started I added my live rock my sand and water then got the filter working along with the protein skimmer. What I didn't know was that you aren't suppose to run the skimmer while cycling so I added a shrimp while my protein skimmer was running for what I thought was starting my cycle.

Well for a couple days, my skimmer was working well and was pulling out the crap. I was running my tests checking the ammonia it did go up to about mid green level so I thought all was working.

After the shrimp rotted away, my nitrates and nitrites are at zero while my ammonia is around .25 But I still have algae growing on my live rock.

Should I start the cycle over again without the skim running or should I unplug the skim (I did that) and let it finish?

 

[NyteGTI]

do you have an Ace hardware anywhere near you? pickup some janitorial strength ammonia & put about 2.5ml/10g of water that should bump you up to 3 ppm. if your tank eats that away in 24hr you're good to go

edit: the ammonia is like 3$.. well worth know if you're cycled or not

 

[CloudStrife]

Yeah I'll have to go get some! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Sniperhank]

If you are cycling, there is no reason to run your skimmer. Filter media is another thing as it is another place for BB to grow.

 

[CloudStrife]

What happens if the ammonia doesn't go down?

 

[EriksFish315]

You have to wait some more.

 

[CloudStrife]

Should I add another shrimp or would the ammonia added for the test to it

 

[EriksFish315]

Keep ammonia dosed to 4 ppm I believe

 

[CloudStrife]

So it's getting closer to the 24 hour mark the the ppm is at about 2 from the 5 it was last night. If it dies off a little after 24 hours is the tank cycled?

 

[EriksFish315]

No you have 0 ammonia 0 nitrites then your cycled.

 

[CloudStrife]

So after 24 hours I have a

Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrite. 5.0ppm

What should be my next step?

 

[EriksFish315]

Dose ammonia back up and wait some more....and wait some more.

 

[CloudStrife]

Unless the ammonia and nitrites are zero after a 24 period then the cycle isn't complete?

 

[EriksFish315]

Right. They should be gone a lot quicker then 24 hours.

 

[CloudStrife]

Does it matter if the nitrites aren't zero when I add more ammonia in?

 

[CloudStrife]

Since I started this thread I went on to do the pure ammonia cycle method and it worked! No ammonia or nirites after a 24 hour period and I was keeping the ammonia up and dosing every 24 hours.

But, I tested it for nitrates and there is none. Did the cycle get screwed up again? Or does it take awhile to show up?

 

[Sniperhank]

Have you been doing water changes? Water changes removes your nitrates. Also the presence of algae will consume nitrates. So in theory, you don't have to have nitrate show up. I have never had any readings for nitrates. That doesn't mean that they weren't there, just consumed.

 

[CloudStrife]

Nope no water changes but I can see how the algae woul do that since I have so much.

 

[EriksFish315]

Picture of your tank?

 

[CloudStrife]

This is it.