Newbie question

[womanhead]

Hey, it's been 30 years since my last SW tank. Things have definitely changed! I am setting up a 60 gallon, probably fish only, at least for now. I used RODI water, canister filter, salinity is 1.020, temp 78°. Friday I added live sand. Saturday I added Tim's stuff. I checked my water for the first time last night (Monday) and my PH was 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and Nitrate was 5. I may be confused, but I'm thinking I should be seeing the ammonia spiking and seeing nitrites rise and so on. So is it possible this has already cycled since nitrates were 5? Thanks in advance, Lauren

 

[Keko21]

 

[Fish Styx]

Greetings and welcome to the reef!

 

[marcinpolak]

 

[ryanjohn1]

Welcome.

 

[Slocke]

Thanks for all the help. Are there any recommendations on how I can be sure? What my next step should be?
Thanks Lauren

I would ghost feed for a week or two. Add a few pellets and test for ammonia every day for a week. If you continue to not see ammonia you can get a fish. Though I’d still test every day for another week.

 

[danenelsen]

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Hello, and welcome to the group.

 

[womanhead]

Hey, it's been 30 years since my last SW tank. Things have definitely changed! I am setting up a 60 gallon, probably fish only, at least for now. I used RODI water, canister filter, salinity is 1.020, temp 78°. Friday I added live sand. Saturday I added Tim's stuff. I checked my water for the first time last night (Monday) and my PH was 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and Nitrate was 5. I may be confused, but I'm thinking I should be seeing the ammonia spiking and seeing nitrites rise and so on. So is it possible this has already cycled since nitrates were 5? Thanks in advance, Lauren

 

[SPR1968]

Hi Lauren, and welcome

 

[G Santana]

Welcome to the Reef

 

[littlefoxx]

Hey, it's been 30 years since my last SW tank. Things have definitely changed! I am setting up a 60 gallon, probably fish only, at least for now. I used RODI water, canister filter, salinity is 1.020, temp 78°. Friday I added live sand. Saturday I added Tim's stuff. I checked my water for the first time last night (Monday) and my PH was 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and Nitrate was 5. I may be confused, but I'm thinking I should be seeing the ammonia spiking and seeing nitrites rise and so on. So is it possible this has already cycled since nitrates were 5? Thanks in advance, Lauren

How long has it been running, and what ammonia source did you use?

 

[womanhead]

How long has it been running, and what ammonia source did you use?

I started feeding it several days ago, I can see now that it hadn't cycled. Its doing so now. I think. Any opinions welcome and requested. Thanks!

Date PH. Ammonia. Nitrites. Nitrates. Salinity
3-14. 7.8. 0.25. 0. 5. 1.021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-15. 7.8. 0. 0. 5. 1.021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-19. 7.8. 0.25. 0.25. 10. 1.022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-23. 7.8. 0.5. 0.5. 10. 1.024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-24. 8.0. 0.5. 1.0. 5. 1.024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-26. 8.0. 0.5. 1,0. 10. 1,022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Stephen8169301]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[littlefoxx]

I started feeding it several days ago, I can see now that it hadn't cycled. Its doing so now. I think. Any opinions welcome and requested. Thanks!

Date PH. Ammonia. Nitrites. Nitrates. Salinity
3-14. 7.8. 0.25. 0. 5. 1.021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-15. 7.8. 0. 0. 5. 1.021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-19. 7.8. 0.25. 0.25. 10. 1.022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-23. 7.8. 0.5. 0.5. 10. 1.024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-24. 8.0. 0.5. 1.0. 5. 1.024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-26. 8.0. 0.5. 1,0. 10. 1,022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ah, I use bottled ammonia to kickstart it!

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[womanhead]

I started feeding it several days ago, I can see now that it hadn't cycled. Its doing so now. I think. Any opinions welcome and requested. Thanks!

Date PH. Ammonia. Nitrites. Nitrates. Salinity
3-14. 7.8. 0.25. 0. 5. 1.021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-15. 7.8. 0. 0. 5. 1.021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-19. 7.8. 0.25. 0.25. 10. 1.022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-23. 7.8. 0.5. 0.5. 10. 1.024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-24. 8.0. 0.5. 1.0. 5. 1.024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-26. 8.0. 0.5. 1,0. 10. 1,022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok today (31st) the Ammonia is 0.0, Nitrite still a bit high at 0.5, nitrates down to 5.0 Is this tank done cycling? Or am I at least going the right way? (Live sand, Dr Tim's, Ghost fed starting the 12th). Thanks in advance. Lauren

 

[acesfull44]

 

[JC1977]