Saltwater Cycling Help

Hello, I have just recently put up a new 20 gallon long saltwater reef tank. I set it up about 2 weeks ago and have been using the cocktail shrimp method to cycle it. I have 20 lbs of live sand and about 18 lbs of reef saver dry rock. I just took the shrimp out today! about 4 days ago I added one of those bacteria in a bottle to help speed up the process. My ammonia is at 3ppm and my nitrite is at about 3-5ppm. I didn't feel like testing for nitrates...8) Anyways I know my nitrate was at about 20 ppm 4 days ago. What I am asking is am I getting close to the end of the nitrogen cycle? I just got my lights in today. I am planning on running them about 2 hours a day. Is that good? Will i start to see algae? Is algae any good for cycling. Also how will I know when the cycle is complete? I want to put in a fish asap!
Sorry for the long post.

 

The post length is fine. Now that we got the important stuff out of the way lets get down to the real issue.

No fish until ammonia and nitrite are 0 period. They both poison or injure fish in fairly low concentrations. You can keep adding bacteria booster is you so choose but your cycle will finish when it is ready to unfortunately. Patience is your best friend in out hobby.

 

Your cycle has started but not finished

you need to wait until both Ammonia and Nitrite are both reading 0 before introducing any live stock

monitor your Nitrate closely at that stage, as it will also spike and then come down (water changes at that stage, will help)

Steve

 

If I put my lights on for 2 hours a day, will i start to see algae? Is that a bad thing?

 

what type of rock have you used to set the tank up

if dry rock only, running the lights for a couple of hours a day would not be a problem IME

if live rock, or part dry and part live, then running lights whilst you have significant nutrients in the tank, could result in algae

many would leave lights off until cycle has completely finished

once cycle has finished, adding members of the CUC, snails and crabs etc
at the same time you gradually phase your lights in
will go a long way to preventing any major algae plague IME

Steve

 

No need to start growing algae until the cycle is over. It will make things easier on your clean up crew which should be your first animal purchase IMO. You could get a fish at that time also.

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef!
I started my tank the same way with table shrimp and dry rock. I removed the shrimp after 7 days. It took another 21 days to finish the cycle. Then I added my first fish.
The cycle ends after you test zero for ammonia and nitrite.
After the cycle you could see diatom, bacterial, and or algae blooms.
At this point patience is key. Like Matt says "Go slow and let it grow" haha

 

Haha I type WAY to slow smh

 

Thanks alot this website really helps! One more question. Once my cycle is complete I am planning on getting a pair of clownfish. I will probably run my lights for 10-12 hours a day, but because my tank is in my room, I do not want the bright light on when i am trying to sleep. Do people turn their tank lights completely off at night? In my room it would be pitch dark. Is this ok for fish?

 

That is perfect for fish, they need their sleep just as we do.