Cycling a tank

[michaelzim]

Ok I set up my new salt water 75 gallon tank with tap water(im a noob). I also took

samples of my water to the lfs to confirm the water is ok. But I just got my ro/di unit

so I will be doing a few large water changes. I added

crushed shells and then 2 bags of carib sea live sand on top. Then I added about 80

lbs of live rock. I also put in 3 1300gph wave makers for water circulation. I put 2

cocktail shrimp in the tank for about 3 days then took them out. I tested the next day

for ammonia and it spiked.

Then 2 days later I tested again and it was back to 0. So I started testing for nitrates

and nitrites and they have all stayed 0-10ppm(nitrites) and 10-20ppm (nitrates) these

are my estimates based on the color matches. So here I am 6 days(about 10 days total) after the ammonia

spike and all levels are extremely low water never got cloudy nitrates and nitrites

never spiked to high.

so has my tank cycled and am I safe to add fish? What else do I need to do before my tank is ready?

 

[Jamo3030]

You will keep seeing fluctuations in the levels as the ammonia production changes (i.e. when you add more fish or cocktail shrimp). I would keep going with the shrimp a bit more to keep ammonia production up. Remember, no ammonia means the ammonia eating bacteria die and the cycle starts over. Continued ammonia production will grow more BB and thus give you a stable and cycled tank.