Just started..few days are my levels looking ok??

[paulr]

Just started a Biocube 29 almost 4 days ago. I got about 30lbs of live rock and 30 dead sand. Readings as follows:

Ammonia-Between .025-.50
Nitrate-0
Niitrite-0
PH-8.2

Thoughts on getting the cycle going? I know you can put a damsel or something in but many think it is cruel since the tank is not going. I had seen a video where a guy put straight ammonia in his tank to cycle. Or is the fish the best way to go?

 

[chbix]

Use a raw shrimp...they can be found in the sea food dept of grocery stores. Make sure it's raw, uncooked in season and just throw one in and let nature do its thing.

You can dose pure ammonia to 4ppm but I don't know the details on that as I'm using the raw shrimp

 

[paulr]

I do have some of the shrimp cube food. Would that work?

 

[chbix]

Meaning fish food? That might work you need something to decompose to cause ammonia to go up

 

[paulr]

I threw a cube in. I would guess I maybe need a more? Any idea what the level should get to during this part of the cycle?

 

[chbix]

If they are small 2 won't hurt. Around 4ppm I think is normal