Help with cycling quarantine

[Fishbro]

Ok so I’m going to admit I’ve never really dosed ammonia or did the fishless way to cycle my tank I’ve always done freshwater and pretty much in tank cycling. I’m going to read my parameters from the last 3 days and how I’ve been cycling the tank and any suggestions to if I’m doing anything right wrong or if it’s just fine are very welcome.

Day 1: Added Frozen Brine Shrimp/ Blood Worms in a net to the tank to introduce ammonia and then used API quickstart (not my first choice but I had it and didn’t want to go buy some BioSpira just for a QT).
pH: 8.3
Nitrate: 5-7
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .12

Day 2
pH: 8.4
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .25

Day 3 (Today)
pH: 8.3
Ammonia: .5-.10 hard to tell
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

I can’t test the salinity yet my refractometer is coming in two days. I am using Ro/Di water and Reef Crystals for my salt.
So I’m just a bit confused. My Nitrates have disappeared, my Nitrite never showed up, and my Ammonia is going down. Did I just never add enough Ammonia to start with? Sorry for all the questions but I’m just trying to get my cycle right.

 

[Quietman]

Give it another day or two. Readings aren't consistent. FYI 1 ppm ammonia should result in 3.6 ppm nitrate.

No need to worry about nitrite, it's not toxic in saltwater.

API ammonia tests are notorious for slightly yellow .25 ppm with 0 actual.

 

[Fishbro]

Give it another day or two. Readings aren't consistent. FYI 1 ppm ammonia should result in 3.6 ppm nitrate.

No need to worry about nitrite, it's not toxic in saltwater.

API ammonia tests are notorious for slightly yellow .25 ppm with 0 actual.

Ok thanks for the help I’ll post my readings again in two days and see how they are.

 

[Greg P]

FYI, in the future you can use liquid ammonia to cycle your tank.
Pure, non-perfumed.
Approximately 1ml will raise 5g by about 5ppm, give or take. Your reading may vary.

Don't quote me on this, but it's what I've been using in my QT and it works very well

 

[Greg P]

So 1ml will raise 20g by about 1.25ppm, if my math is correct

I've been adding 2.5ml to my 20g qt with a total of 16.5g weekly
I have an Aquaclear 50 on it with 2 sponges. It clears ammonia in about 12 hours.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

If you are using api tests then ammonia is likely zero. Not sure why api has never addressed this but their ammonia test is crap. Are you in a time constraint? How long into the cycle are you?

 

[Fishbro]

If you are using api tests then ammonia is likely zero. Not sure why api has never addressed this but their ammonia test is crap. Are you in a time constraint? How long into the cycle are you?

Oh I’m definitely not on a time constraint I’m trying to take saltwater slow but sometimes I get a little too excited lol. I’m also only 4 days into the cycle so not far at all. I’m planning on QT my fish for about a month or two though so I’m setting up the QT before the actual display tank.

 

[Fishbro]

Okay, so now I am 5 days into the cycle. My parameters for all the days are:

pH: 8.3
Nitrate: 5-7
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .12

Day 2
pH: 8.4
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .25

Day 3
pH: 8.3
Ammonia: .5-.10 hard to tell
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

Day 4
pH: 8.4
Ammonia: .20
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

Day 5
pH: 8.4
Ammonia: .12
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 3-5

Is anything out of wack here or is this a normal cycle? How long until the cycle is finished I know my Ammonia is reading .12 but the API Ammonia test isn't very accurate.