Testing during the Cycle?

Okay I have been searching and searching and can not find any place that tells me how often to check my parameters while I am trying to cycle my tanks. I found a post a few days ago that told me everything about the cycle including the days at which I should test, but I can't find it anywhere.

Does anyone know how often I should test for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates?

I figure that I would not have to be testing for nitrites until my ammonia starts going down, and the same for nitrates in relativity with nitrites.

Is this a popular consensus?

 

I started out with dry rock and live sand, added 1 cocktail shrimp, after 4 days I started testing every other day, nearing the end of the cycle now after 2 weeks.

 

I would suggest testing every other day or every 3 days once you see some ammonia....

 

Agreed.

And yes, you can test only Ammonia until it drops near 0, then start testing Nitrite. You don't really need to know your Nitrate level until Ammonia and Nitrite are 0. Also, the presence of Ammonia or Nitrite can cause false readings on Nitrate tests with some kits.

Some like to test everything every day from the beginning, but there's really no point in wasting reagents. JM2C

 

That was what I was thinking. I am already going to be using double the reagents due to having 2 tanks. I am going to try and figure out a way to save some. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

Get Seachem Ammonia Alerts. Far better accuracy, and full time monitoring of ammonia so no wasted test kits! I use them in my QT/HT, and any time I cycle a new tank.

 

I didn't know such a thing existed! I'm always learning new things! One of the beauties of this hobby!