I used dry rock when I set up my tank, so my cycle time may not be indicative of a tank with live rock. My process:
- Fill tank with 1.026 salt water
- Add Bio-spira bacteria booster
- Add pure ammonia until test kit reads 2 mg/L
- Wait a day or so
- Test nitrites and nitrates until both read 0, add ammonia as needed to reach 2 mg/l again
- Repeat #5, until 2 mg/L ammonia is converted to 0 mg/L nitrates in 24 hours
- Tank is cycled (usually takes 4-6 weeks)
- Add livestock slowly