Cycle questions

[Midcoast]

Alright, so I’m confused. I set up my first saltwater tank on Saturday doing a fishless cycle. Went to the LFS and got saltwater, live sand, ceramic media with live bacteria and microbacter7. The guy working offered me some ammonia chloride (not sure the brand if that matters) to kick off the cycle (30 drops or so for a 30 gallon tank). Went home, filled the tank, added bacteria and ammonia and the ammonia test never registered anything. Started reading and turns out I needed more than just that little bit of ammonia (why he didn’t tell me this, I have no idea). so I ordered some online it arrived today and I added the specified amount (15ml) that should have given me 4ppm, but I’m getting 3. Do I continue to add more drops to get it to 4? Do I have too much bacteria from too many sources? Is that even a thing? I’ve read so many variations on the fishless cycle I’m not sure which one to follow. Any good recommendations?

Just tested again before posting this and pH is 8ppm, Ammonia now testing at 1 ppm and Nitrites <1ppm. Am I overdoing or under doing something? Assuming ammonia continues t drop to 0 tomorrow, would that mean the tank is cycled already? From everything I’ve read I don’t think it is, but nitrites and ammonia are dropping to 0 in less than 24 hours already.

 

[germieac]

i like to have at least 3 consecutive days of 0s

 

[Tahoe61]

Cycling can seem confusing because it sounds so complicated.

The quickest cycle is done using live wet rock from a running system.

If you use dry rock and sand just add the ammonia and Microbacter7 according to directions and walk away for 3 weeks. When you get to 3 weeks test again.

The cycle will happen, the nitrogen cycle will be completed. Patience is the hardest part.

You have come to the right place. Research will save you money and thwart a lot of the common mistakes.

In the last year I have cycled 3 tanks. One I used Ammonium Chloride and Microbacter7. Another Fluval Turbo start, and the last one using live wet rocks. The tanks all cycled in roughly 3 weeks time.

 

[MikeReefs]

Usually a dry rock cycle will take approximately 3 weeks. I’ve done them a hand of times using MB7 and ammonia and they all took 3 weeks. I would add a bit more ammonia and see how fast it gets converted to nitrite then nitrate.

 

[Fish Fan]

I think you're in good shape, I think you're ahead because you used the seeded ceramic media.

Ammonia concentration of 4.0 ppm is too high, in my opinion, I would have gone for about 2.0 ppm max. Using too much ammonia only delays the cycle, and results in very high nitrate in the end.

I believe you already have enough bacteria and ammonia. I would wait for the ammonia to come down to nearly zero, and then start slowly stocking with some hardy livestock. There's no need to measure or be concerned with nitrite, it's non-toxic in marine systems, so just watch for the ammonia to go down to nearly zero

Good luck!