Help!

[Ivanbmwe46]

Hey guys I started cycling my fish tank 2 weeks ago. I have live rock and live sand in it. I test the levels with my kit every 2 days but I haven't seen a change in anything. Amonia has remaind at zero since day 1 and so has the nitrite. What am I doing wrong? Someone please help. TIA

[jason142]

So you started with live rock and sand or was it all dry?

[Ivanbmwe46]

I started off with 50 lbs of live rock and 30 lbs of live sand.

[jason142]

What size tank?

[Ivanbmwe46]

It's a 55 gallon tank.

[ZaxSaid]

It could have been an instant cycle since he started with live rock and sand , do you have any pictures of the tank?


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[jason142]

Throw about 4 or 5 chromis in there and see if your ammonia or nitrite levels change. Have you tested nitrate?

[Ivanbmwe46]

I have tested and it was between 10ppm and 20ppm and nitrite it's always been at 0ppm, ph 8.2 and ammonia it's between 0.25ppm and 0.50ppm

[ZaxSaid]

Are you using the API test kit?


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[jason142]

ZaxSaid is right, you might have already had your cycle. I would still throw in some chromis before you really start stocking your tank to make sure.

[Ivanbmwe46]

It could have been an instant cycle since he started with live rock and sand , do you have any pictures of the tank?


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Here are some pictures of my rock. They do have coralline growing


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[Ivanbmwe46]

@zaxsaid yes


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[ZaxSaid]

You could try ammonia drops instead of adding the chromis wait 24 hours and see where your ammonia levels are though not 100% sure on the ammonia drops @Jason what are your thoughts on that idea
@Ivanbmwe46 if you're reading ammonia levels of .25 with API test kit 9/10 you're probably getting s false positive went through that as well


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[Ivanbmwe46]

You could try ammonia drops instead of adding the chromis wait 24 hours and see where your ammonia levels are though not 100% sure on the ammonia drops @Jason what are your thoughts on that idea
@Ivanbmwe46 if you're reading ammonia levels of .25 with API test kit 9/10 you're probably getting s false positive went through that as well


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So if the kit is reading a false positive. What should I do? Would taking it to a fish store to check my levels be better?


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[jason142]

You could try ammonia drops instead of adding the chromis wait 24 hours and see where your ammonia levels are though not 100% sure on the ammonia drops @Jason what are your thoughts on that idea
@Ivanbmwe46 if you're reading ammonia levels of .25 with API test kit 9/10 you're probably getting s false positive went through that as well


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I personally would not add ammonia drops but that is just me. I have cycle both of my tanks with chromis. You could take you water in to get tested but the majority of LFS use API test kits. I know some people have done fishless cycle by putting a piece of shrimp in the tank.