I followed advice from R2R and did not bleach my dead rock. I blew it out with the compressor, soaked in RO/DI the sun dried it for a week. Finally got the tank scaped yesterday afternoon and let it sit for sand to settle. I then realized that I had the previous ceramic filter media so soaked and dried that as well figuring it’s more of the same.
This morning I checked ammonia thinking the dead rock might start the cycle and found ammonia at 0.2 using both RedSea and Tropic Marin kits. Checked for nitrates for fun and they were at about 2 on both tests. Which I thought was a little quick. I didn’t measure nitrites per se but because of how the Tropic Marin test is conducted I know they are present.
Had planned to cycle with Dr Tim’s but with ammonia and nitrates both present, is there any point at adding anything or is the dead rock and live sand just doing it all for me? I have no clue what the ammonia was at its peak. Tank sat about 16 hours before I tested.
This morning I checked ammonia thinking the dead rock might start the cycle and found ammonia at 0.2 using both RedSea and Tropic Marin kits. Checked for nitrates for fun and they were at about 2 on both tests. Which I thought was a little quick. I didn’t measure nitrites per se but because of how the Tropic Marin test is conducted I know they are present.
Had planned to cycle with Dr Tim’s but with ammonia and nitrates both present, is there any point at adding anything or is the dead rock and live sand just doing it all for me? I have no clue what the ammonia was at its peak. Tank sat about 16 hours before I tested.