Another noob cycle question !!

Good for you, better to take it slow, nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

Congratulations on your first saltwater tank

 

My ammonia as been the same since Monday. Is that normal. Still no nitrites yet.

 

Yes, it very well could be normal. As already mentioned, without knowing the exact condition of your rock, one can only say your cycle can last from 2 to 6 weeks, possibly up to 8. It would be impossible to make a better guess at this point. Just keep testing a couple times per week until you notice a change. No point in stressing; you have ammonia, so the cycle will complete.

 

One more question. I have a Nexx canister filter that I plan on running for flow. Gonna put soe live rock rubble instead of the bio balls. My water was cloudy after I added it so I put the filter media in the canister filter. Can that have a bad affect or maybe could slow the cycle. I put them in just to clear the water and forgot about them. I know these canister filters can be nitrate factories that why I plan on running it with no media just to get more water flow.

 

Nothing wrong with BioSpira. I used it and my tank cycled in a few days.

You're adding the bacteria that's going to be in there anyway, just instantly. It does need a ammonia source though.

What did you wash your rock with? If freshwater you now have a lot of dead rock.

 

in terms of biomedia what did you put in - the rings, carbon, ? just curious....You really shouldn't need a lot of flow for your cycle but others can chime in...you sounded so cute with your description of picking up the bottle then putting it down, you know you are now addicted albeit it's a rather quick onset addiction considering you're right at the beginning I agree though, it's not going to hurt to add the bacteria.....it will help your cycle

 

Yeah I washed it with tap water. It seems that my ammonia has stalled. It's been between 0.25 and 0.50 since Monday. I figure it would have increased in 5 days.

 

The media was the white cartridges with carbon in them. Yes it's addicting. I have my tax money already spent and it's not even here yet. Lights, more live rock..etc, ect. Lol. I may just go get the bio spira today and try that. Really not in that big of a hurry though. Just wondering if the cycle has stalled since the ammonia has been pretty much the same for 5 or 6 days now. Didn't know if I needed something to jump start it again or leave it and wait.

 

I wouldn't run media in your canister for sure...

 

I took it out. Think I'm gonna get some bio spira tomorrow. Tested the ammonia today and it's still the same that it's been for 6 days.