0 Ammonia, Still fairly new

I have been testing my water every other day, but didn't start testing until 3/1/13, its a new tank. I added a single 6lb piece of live rock about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and I added dry rock from ReefCleaners and live sand 2/28/13. I have my last two water tests below. Test kits are Salifert.

Here are the results from my tests on 3/3/13:
Ammonia- 0
Nitrites- .5
Nitrates- between 50-100, closer to 50
SG 1.025

After testing I added one raw table shrimp, no shell, no tail.

Today when I tested the water I ended with these results:
Ammonia- 0
Nitrites- 1
Nitrates- still between 50-100, but a little darker than 48 hours ago.

Is it really possible/probable for me to be this far into my cycle? The shrimp is definitely decaying, it's falling apart, but I don't have an ammonia reading.

 

You can take the shrimp out now. Once you see decay that's enough. Let the bacteria catch up. How big is the tank?

Don't take this piece of advise just yet.

Water change to reduce nitrates?

 

I pulled the shrimp out, it was pretty mushy, smelled horrible. The tank is 75 gallons, plus about 15-20 in the sump. I think I will put the water change off until the tank is cycled though, there's nothing living in it now so it should be fine. I was just thinking that it would be too early still for ammonia to read 0 after two days with a dead shrimp.

 

Iirc it goes ammonia nitrite nitrates in that order. If you're not registering ammo ammonia have low nitrite and high nitrates it almost appears you're cycled. Wait for some other people to tone in though.

 

Today's test Results:
Ammonia- 0
Nitrites- .25
Nitrates- Between 50-100, Can't wait for the cycle to be over and change some water, then maybe my test kit will be in range for this one.

 

Starting with that single rock gave you a good head start. That one rock has enough biofiltration because you have a low bioload (just a piece of decaying shrimp). Your cycle will be complete, but you won't have a tank full of beneficial bacteria yet. Add your fish one at a time with at least 3-4 days between fish. Feed them lightly and let your bacteria population grow and spread to your other rock and sand bed.

You're off to a great start.

 

+1

Take your time adding livestock. If you add too much too soon, you'll throw off the entire space - time continuum. As in cause another mini cycle b/c your bio filter won't be able to adjust to the higher bioload and keep up.
Best rule of thunm I"ve ever heard- from a lfs I don't even go to anymore is:
One fish at a time, one month apart

and the ever not so popular:

One fish per every 10 gallons of water. i.e.- 30 gallon tank- 3 fish-(does not include inverts, add those no problem.

Just my 2 cents

 

And also it depends on size of fish. Larger fish equals a larger load its gonna put on the tank. But yea it seems like your about through with your cycle. Patience is the key! You got your fish planned out yet?

 

These are the fish that I'm thinking about so far, although I'm not sure what will make the cut for sure. The one I'm most flexible on would be the Coral Beauty, although I don't want the one spot eating my corals. Any suggestions?

Firefish
Ocellaris Clown Fish
Bristletooth Tomini Tang
Blue Reef Chromis- qty 3
One Spot Foxface
Coral Beauty Dwarf Angel

 

Starting with live sand provided enough bacteria to seed the entire tank once it was given something to feed on (the shrimp). Once your nitrites drop back to zero, your cycle will be complete.