Red Sea Reef Max E260

Luannh · Sep 12, 2016

Update on my E260
Ordered Dr. Tim's ammonia, added to tank checked 24 hours later.
Ammonia level at 2 ppm.
So I know it hasn't cycled yet.
Status of my tank now is diatoms on rock, substrate and glass.
pH- 8.0
Ammonia- 0.50 ppm
Nitrite- 5.0 ppm
Nitrate- 40 ppm
It seems like parameters for cycle are not happening in the order or number that they should.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

ksfulk · Sep 12, 2016

Luannh said:
Update on my E260
Ordered Dr. Tim's ammonia, added to tank checked 24 hours later.
Ammonia level at 2 ppm.
So I know it hasn't cycled yet.
Status of my tank now is diatoms on rock, substrate and glass.
pH- 8.0
Ammonia- 0.50 ppm
Nitrite- 5.0 ppm
Nitrate- 40 ppm
It seems like parameters for cycle are not happening in the order or number that they should.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Typically ammonia cycling is done in conjunction with a bacteria in a bottle additive - like Dr. Tims or BioSpira. Ive had issues with cycling with shrimp where it took a LONG time for the bacteria to really gain a foothold. However, if you ammonia was at 2ppm and 24 hours later it was at 0.5ppm (which I think is what Im reading), your cycle is going, its just taking some time. A supplement of additional bacteria may drive the cycle faster, or you can continue to wait it out, as the bacteria are in there doing their thing - just being slow about it :)

Luannh · Sep 12, 2016

Thanks for your help ksfulk.
I'm sorry I didn't make my post more clear.
When I dosed my tank with ammonia the level was 2ppm.
I checked 24 hours later and it was still 2ppm.
Two days later my parameters are as I posted yesterday.
I have never cycled a tank successfully.
I would appreciate any help you could give me.