Tank cycle and copepods

[Jake_the_reefer]

So I set up a new salt water tank (eventually a reef tank) and this is my first one (I've only done a ton of freshwater tanks) and about 2 weeks into the tank being set up copepods have started to be noticeable in a decent number. There is also a snail (I'm assuming a nassarius snail) that came on the live rock I picked up. The snail and copepods are thriving and nitrates are starting to form but ammonia is at about .1ppm. My question I guess is, is my tank just about cycles or is cycled and ready for fish. Sorry if this is confusing I've done a ton of saltwater research but my comfort zone is in freshwater tanks. Thank you all!

 

[Idoc]

Sounds like you are progressing well into the cycle. The live rock is definitely helping with your cycle.

I like to add pure ammonia up to 1-2ppm and then see if the system can clear it to zero... then you are cycled. But, it is questionable to add ammonia to a system that already has life and live rock present.

You can always add some bacteria in a bottle to help with the bio-diversity. But, I would still give it a couple more weeks.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I added bacteria and the ammonia was at almost 1ppm now it's down to .1 to .2 which is giving me the idea it's almost done hopefully I can add some percula clowns in soon!!!