Cycle Questions - Beginner here!

I assume the start of the cycle is when you essentially get everything going? Live rock,sand, saltwater all added 6 days ago.

 

Yeah, then no, you cycle is not complete.

 

I would throw an ammonia source in the tank, even though the rock would do it too, albeit slowly. Then give a 6-8 weeks. You can monitor it if you get anxious by observing the ammonia spike, the subsequent nitrite spike and then the nitrate spike. Once you no longer read ammonia or nitrite, you cycle has completed.

 

I appreciate the help. I guess its time to play the waiting game

 

waiting game sucks... I'd say add a chromi, damsel or two in a couple weeks. Will help the cycle along and they are pretty hardy. Plus if you do lose them, they're cheap...

 

Nos sense in introducing a fish when there are many other just as effective cycling techniques out there. Let the cycle complete and then add a fish. If that happens to be in a couple of weeks, then so be it.

 

Every tank is different, but they would eventually come down. My 46 gal with no sump/refugium took the same amount of time to get nitrates to 0 as my 55 gal did with a 30 gal sump/refugium.