Cycle :(

I have been cyclyng my 16 gal tank for almost three weeks and my water parameters look like this... Ammonia:8 Nitrite:2 Nitrate:80 (Dark green, Dark purple, and dark red) what's going on!!!????

 

How much rock and was it cured, dry base rock or uncured live rock?

 

It was dry rock.

 

I cycled a large tank completely dry base rock and it took 6 weeks. You can do a couple things if you decide you do would like to try to see a decline in the ammonia secondary to a more developed biological filter.

If you have not seeded any of the rock or sand try that.

There are some product that make claims to introduce nutrifying bacteria to a new system, if they do indeed I have no clue, but I do believe Microbacter7 does provide some helpful bacteria.

Adding any form of organic matter like a raw table shrimp at this time would be pointless since you already have decay going on.

Also if it continues compare your test results against another test kit, but I think you are just seeing a normal slow cycle.

 

Thanks! But slow cycles suck!

 

Yes they do, but you have a diatom bloom next and after that a green hair algae bloom to look forward to. lol.

 

Crap!

 

im gunna suggest some additional bacteria. try adding some live rock or a specialty product like microbater7. this will help diversify your bacteria driven nitrogen cycle and will assist in stability down the line. also, it'll help you finnish up quicker. GL

 

it really sucks ... started killing my corals like a cat and mouse