I dislike the term "cycled" but it should be safe for a smaller fish or two. In freshwater, nitrites are very dangerous. In saltwater, the chlorides block absorption of the nitrites so the fish are safe. You can test nitrates but don't read too much into the results. Most nitrate tests break down nitrates into nitrites and then perform a color change to read them. If you are showing nitrites it can cause a false high reading on nitrates.
Its not uncommon. It's hard to say if it is false positives on the test or just an unbalance in bacteria populations. If your ammonia rapidly goes to 0ppm and you have increasing nitrates I wouldn't worry about the nitrites.
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Most will be ok but I'm not sure that I would take the chance. Especially with the cleaner shrimp.
Is this true for coral and inverts also? (Nitrites being safe for them)
My concern is less the nitrites and more with the nitrates. Some inverts don't tolerate rapid swings in nitrates very well.
I added ammonia yesterday and this morning it was back to 0. I was planning to do another dose to make sure it continues to process it in a day but I won't once anything has been added to the tank.
Definitely stop adding ammonia!
I don't feel like I've added that much ammonia. I've only dosed a total of 3 times to bring it up to about 2ppm. First time was the start of the cycle and it took a week to process to 0. Then added bio spira, dosed 2 days in a row and was zero in 24 hours both times.
Ok, it is harder with a large system. Just because it is such a challenge, I'd hold off for another day or 2 prior to doing a water change. For a small system water changes are a quick, easy, and cheap reset. Not so much for a larger system.
Sounds good. I'll do a water change in a couple days and then once a week till things are more in order?
I doubt it will even take that long, but it sounds like a good plan.
For cycling, the API kit is just fine and what I normally recommend. No reason to spend more for a test kit that will get used for a few weeks unless you are going to set up a few tanks.
Most likely they are either being processed at a rate faster than they are being generated or you have a nice population of Nitrospira bacteria that convert ammonia directly to nitrate. Using Dr Tims, either is possible.
Not a requirement. As long as you won't be adding sensitive inverts your nitrates are just fine. Nitrites are not important in a marine system.
I actually recommend adding chaeto (or other macro algae) prior to adding fish but after the tank is cycled. The biggest benefit is that it will process ammonia directly just like your now cycled rock. It may not do much to reduce nitrates initially since you may be PO4 limited. If you do have enough PO4 in your system this is very cost effective compared to doing a large water change for a system your size.
