Hello everyone, after moving from a beach town to a valley with no ocean nearby, I decided to get a saltwater tank as I love being by the ocean. I started doing a fishless cycle 3 weeks ago using Dr. Tims ammonia and Microbacter 7. I measured my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels every other day.I actually work as a microbiology so having to do this makes my room like a little wet lab , so I was very happy about that. I saw how my ammonia level went up then down and then my nitrite to nitrate. Got my water tested at a lfs and a week ago and told me my nitrites we're off the chart. 2 days a go, I went to another lfs that can read my NH4, NO2-, NO3- very accurately with like a machine for 10 bucks and informed me that my cycling is almost done.. (0.1 ammonia, 0.4ppm Nitrite and 10 ppm nitrate).. Today I tested the water myself and I saw a reading of 0 for all three molecules (maybe some nitrate but very low <5PPM). I am very excited to add my first fish tomorrow but as I was reading different forums and how people cycled their tank, I read from some hobbyist that they continued to dose ammonia. I did not do that. I only added 60 drops of dr. tims ammonia on the first day for my 20 g as that is what the instruction says. DID I CYCLE MY TANK INCORRECTLY? was I supposed to dose ammonia and keep it at 2 or 5 PPM? Now I am afraid to add my fish tomorrow, but I have been waiting for this day (to see 0 ppm) PLEASE HELP NEED PEOPLE's opinion. Also I changed the set up of my rocks 2 days ago, I used gloves to make sure that I don't contaminate my tank. Would that mess up my live bacteria. As a microbiologist, I would assume no but I never had a saltwater tank so I'm not sure. I also didnt see any growth of algae as I didnt have a light during cycling and just got the ai prime 16hd yesterday. Anyways any opinion or information is appreciated. Also please don't judge me for adding live bacteria and not doing this naturally. I believe this is modern day natural. I grow bacteria in my lab all the time and its not that different from seeing it in lab and in field trials.
If need pictures just comment and I can upload.
If need pictures just comment and I can upload.