I'm brand new to reef keeping and am currently in the process of setting up my first tank
To start my cycle I've been adding 1/2 cube of frozen Mysis shrimp every 2nd day and dosing with Continuum Bacter genM bacteria for about a week. I've been testing with the Red Sea marine care kit, however the ammonia readings have not moved from 0 (nitrites & nitrates also at 0).
My question is - Is this normal? Should I be expecting to see some ammonia by now or does it usually take a few weeks for the shrimp to breakdown and release ammonia to start the cycle off?
My tank is: 244L including sump, skimmer is not on, temp at 25C, pH 8.3, SG 1.025, DKH 6 (which I think is a bit low but the pH hasn't changed and as its to soon for fish/coral so my LFS said not to worry about it yet)
To start my cycle I've been adding 1/2 cube of frozen Mysis shrimp every 2nd day and dosing with Continuum Bacter genM bacteria for about a week. I've been testing with the Red Sea marine care kit, however the ammonia readings have not moved from 0 (nitrites & nitrates also at 0).
My question is - Is this normal? Should I be expecting to see some ammonia by now or does it usually take a few weeks for the shrimp to breakdown and release ammonia to start the cycle off?
My tank is: 244L including sump, skimmer is not on, temp at 25C, pH 8.3, SG 1.025, DKH 6 (which I think is a bit low but the pH hasn't changed and as its to soon for fish/coral so my LFS said not to worry about it yet)