I started cycling my 57g tank on 8/27 (19 days ago) with Brightwell Microbacter quick start and start XLM. I used dry rinsed sand and cured/dried marco rocks (curing was probably overkill but I wanted to make sure there were little to no phosphates. After soaking in RODI water for a few days, phosphate was .02.I let the rocks dry and spent the next month building the aquascape. Ammonia measured 2ppm on day 1 and gradually dropped to 0ppm on day 9. Nitrite gradually increased to 2-5ppm by day 9 where it reached it's peak and appears to have been stuck there ever since. So nitrite has been at least 2ppm for 10 days. I have 2 test kits for nitrite/ammonia - RedSea and API. RedSea only measures Nitrite up to 1ppm and I measured well beyond 1ppm since 9/3. With API it's very difficult to tell a difference between 2ppm and 5ppm, but I believe it's been somewhere between 2 and 5ppm.
Microbacter claims a typical cycle using this method is about 7 days.
On 9/8 (day 11) I added about 20 MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia 1 1/2 Spheres that were in the sump of my 20g established tank for a couple months to the sump of the new tank with hopes of adding some beneficial bacteria since I had used all of the Start XLM.
Per Brightewell's instructions:
"Although product can withstand elevated temperatures for short periods of time (a few days), for best longevity and highest potency, keep below 80°F and if possible, it will be best kept refrigerated at 50°F to much prolong shelf life."
For 1 month I stored the Start XLM around 68 degrees. Not sure who keeps their fridge at 50 degrees so that wasn't much of a feasible option for me, so I figured storing it in the basement which stays below 70 degrees with the AC on in the summer was the best option. Sounds like this is within reason although perhaps not optimal to prolong the life of the bacteria.
Is the cycle stuck? Should I do a water change? Leave it alone? Here are the most recent test results (ammonia is zero with both test kits).
Microbacter claims a typical cycle using this method is about 7 days.
On 9/8 (day 11) I added about 20 MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia 1 1/2 Spheres that were in the sump of my 20g established tank for a couple months to the sump of the new tank with hopes of adding some beneficial bacteria since I had used all of the Start XLM.
Per Brightewell's instructions:
"Although product can withstand elevated temperatures for short periods of time (a few days), for best longevity and highest potency, keep below 80°F and if possible, it will be best kept refrigerated at 50°F to much prolong shelf life."
For 1 month I stored the Start XLM around 68 degrees. Not sure who keeps their fridge at 50 degrees so that wasn't much of a feasible option for me, so I figured storing it in the basement which stays below 70 degrees with the AC on in the summer was the best option. Sounds like this is within reason although perhaps not optimal to prolong the life of the bacteria.
Is the cycle stuck? Should I do a water change? Leave it alone? Here are the most recent test results (ammonia is zero with both test kits).