First time tank cycle questions...

[rbarr110]

I started my cycle on July 1st in my 120 gallon tank. I added 20lb bag live sand to my dry sand and dry rock, also used a 12 oz. bottle of SeaChem Aquavitro Seed bacteria. I left town and came home the evening of the 5th. When I came home ammonia was at 0.8 ppm and Nitrite at 0.5 ppm. I am assuming I missed the initial ammonia spike.

Next 2 days ammonia was staying at 0.5 ppm, so I pulled the shrimp on July 7th and added a larger bottle of the Fritz Turbo Start 900 bacteria. On the 8th Ammonia was 0.1-0.2 ppm and I dosed ammonia and got it up to 2.0 ppm. As of this morning July 9th, the ammonia is at ZERO (36 hours after dosing ammonia).

For how long/often and how much ppm ammonia should I continue to add as I am only 9 days into my cycle? I didn't have time to test Nitrite this morning but Nitrite has been at 0.5 ppm from the 5th to the 8th.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I started my cycle on July 1st in my 120 gallon tank. I added 20lb bag live sand to my dry sand and dry rock, also used a 12 oz. bottle of SeaChem Aquavitro Seed bacteria. I left town and came home the evening of the 5th. When I came home ammonia was at 0.8 ppm and Nitrate at 0.5 ppm. I am assuming I missed the initial ammonia spike.

Next 2 days ammonia was staying at 0.5 ppm, so I pulled the shrimp on July 7th and added a larger bottle of the Fritz Turbo Start 900 bacteria. On the 7th Ammonia was 0.1-0.2 ppm and I dosed ammonia and got it up to 2.0 ppm. As of this morning July 9th, the ammonia is at ZERO (36 hours after dosing ammonia).

For how long/often and how much ppm ammonia should I continue to add as I am only 9 days into my cycle? I didn't have time to test Nitrate this morning but Nitrite has been at 0.5 ppm from the 5th to the 8th.

I would say you are done with ammonia additions. Bottle bacteria works and therefore you've turbo charged the cycling process. Time to add copepods and amphipods to the tank, followed up with a couple fish. Congrats!