Check this out?

My tank has cycled for 1 week now. There is only a Aqueon filter presently but is going to be changed to a protien skimmer and power head only. The water is crystal clear and i have 6 pounds of live rock in my 36 gallon tank. The sand is very fin and is 2 inches high.
The temp:80F
The Ammonia:0ppm
The Nitrite:0ppm
The Nitrate:5ppm
ph:8-7.8
Salinity:1.021-1.022
The water is RO/DI water and i got it from the LFS. I haven't been able to check my water levels and all for my water before because it had a foam problem that made the water grey. Its fixed now and this is the first time i ve tested for all of this.

Is this a good sign? and how long would you guess that i would have to cycle longer? I am maybe going to put raw shrimp in the tank to help with the cycling, is it necessary? Any advice?

 

Typically I like to give a tank 6 wks to 8 wks to complete the initial cycle.

While parameters you can measure are in check a tank continues to cycle as it becomes established with fish and inverts you add.

I would sure add the rest of the rock whether it be dry or lr while the tank is under going the initial cycle if you are going to be adding more rock.

 

Pretty good, but try to make it more like this:

1. Test results should be: ​

*pH 8.0 to 8.4
*Ammonia 0.0
*Nitrite 0.0
*Nitrate 0.0
*Salinity (fish) 1.019
*Salinity (invertebrate) 1.024 to 1.025

And try your best to keep the temp at 79 degrees F. That 1 degree difference will be noticable for your fish, reef, and inverts. (Why do you think they say 79 degrees and not 80?) Other than that, your good!;D

 

0.0 nitrate? i thought that was impossible?

 

nearly, but not impossible! patience! wax on wax off wax on wax off! When you think your done with the cycle wait 2 weeks, when you think your tank is ready for a new fish, wait 2 weeks! etc