Maintaining cycled rock

[b2smoov]

I'm really looking forward to the upgrade. It's been a long drawn out process between buying a house, moving career changes etc. But I'm close. All that's left is a stand and canopy, sand and plumbing. Still tying to sort out the set up and transfer but I think I have a pretty good idea of how I'll accomplish it.

 

[b2smoov]

It looks to me that ammonia is at .5ppm. I'm not good with the color comparison tests. Yesterday I was at 2.0ppm so I think it's safe to say I'm cycled. What do y'all think?

 

[b2smoov]

Tested water again. Ammonia had the slightest green tint. Nitrates are 62.3ppm. I'm going to say my rock is cycled. Going to do a 100% water change and patiently wait a couple months to dose ammonia and test again. On another note I tested phosphate and got a 0.0 reading. I guessed it's safe to say my dry rock doesn't leach phosphates so that's good news.

 

[Garf]

my dry rock doesn't leach phosphates so that's good news

Maybe. Bacteria under carbon limitation have a very low phosphate content, although they do require a tiny bit (probably undetectable).