cycling question!

[bstu22]

I am new to the salt water hobby and i have been cycling my 50 gallon tank for a about a month now but my numbers have stalled for about a week now and im curious if this is something that happens or if its a problem.
here is a list of readings
8/29 started cycling
9/05 amonia 4 nitrites 0 nitrates 0
9/11 amonia 8 nitrites 5 nitrates 0
9/12 amonia 5 nitrites 6 nitrates 4
9/13-19 amonia 4 nitrites 2 nitrates 10

so from what im seeing my nitrates are at a good level but amonia and nitrites have stayed the same for about a week is this ok? im hoping it is something that i just have to wait out which is what i think it is but I have been reading up on this site for the last month or so and would like some advice from some real experts.

[prow]

i am no expert but IMO its still cycling. looks like its close to the end. to better help though need some more info. whats in the tank; inches of sand or BB, lbs of LR cured or not, water flow what and how much, equipment skimmer ect.. all that stuff and other tests you are doing like ph. also are you adding anything? are you doing water changes?

[lcstorc]

I agree. We need more info on this mystery. I would be particularly interrested in the LR questions and the skimmer question. Also what did you put in the tank to cycle it? Is it still there?

[AQTCJAK]

I agree any updated info would help us to figure this out

[bstu22]

Ok lets see I have a mix of 40 lbs sand and 40 lbs crushed coral, 20 lbs of the sand was live sand. I have no rock at all at this time but will be adding lr when it is done cycling. flow I have 2 maxi jet 1200s. skimmer is not on since i heard that can slow down cycling. i havent done any water changes since i started the cycle there was two huge shrimp in a stocking since it started but i took them out yestarday. I have had no lights on the whole time either.
here is an update of todays test and some other past test
ph has been a steady 8.0 since the beginning
salinity has been at 1.0245 to 1.025 since the beginning
temp has been at 77-78 daily
i have been adding calcium slowly to raise it up for the last couple of days

sep18 calcium 250 alkalinity 4.72 amonia 4 nitrites 5 nitrates 10
sep19 calcium 250 alkalinity 4.72 amonia 4 nitrites 5 nitrates 10
sep20 calcium 300 alkalinity 4.72 amonia 4 nitrites 5 nitrates 20

[bstu22]

Ok lets see I have a mix of 40 lbs sand and 40 lbs crushed coral, 20 lbs of the sand was live sand. I have no rock at all at this time but will be adding lr when it is done cycling. flow I have 2 maxi jet 1200s. skimmer is not on since i heard that can slow down cycling. i havent done any water changes since i started the cycle there was two huge shrimp in a stocking since it started but i took them out yestarday. I have had no lights on the whole time either.
here is an update of todays test and some other past test
ph has been a steady 8.0 since the beginning
salinity has been at 1.0245 to 1.025 since the beginning
temp has been at 77-78 daily
i have been adding calcium slowly to raise it up for the last couple of days
sep18 calcium 250 alkalinity 4.72 amonia 4 nitrites 5 nitrates 10
sep19 calcium 250 alkalinity 4.72 amonia 4 nitrites 5 nitrates 10
sep20 calcium 300 alkalinity 4.72 amonia 4 nitrites 5 nitrates 20

[bstu22]

sorry i also forgot to put down that magnesium has been at a steady 1520 and phosphates are at .25

[lcstorc]

The LR is very much part of the cycle. I believe this is why you still show nitrites. The bacteria that lives in the rock is responsible for the nitrogen cycle and without LR or other biological media I don't know if the tank will ever finish cycling.
Also I would not worry about calc or alk at this point. Just ph, amonia, nitrites and nitrates. Perhaps phosphates. The rest I would start worrying about after the cycle has completed and before you start adding corals. With that said those calcium numbers seem pretty low. What salt are you using and what if any additives have you added?

[BEELZEBOB]

id expect a 50gallon tank to take MONTHS to cycle.

the population of bacteria that you need to establish in a tank that size will take a while.

i let my 18 gallon cycle for 2 months, solid.

wait until eveything is @ 0's, the dump a lil urine, pure amonia, or something dead in there, and monitor the ammonia levels, nitrites and trates, and if your cyled, the levels should level back to zero shortly.

if you started the tank in sept/ late aug, IMHO, i wouldnt be lookin to ad livestock untill around turkey day.

but thats just me. the slower you take it, the better the results.

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by BEELZEBOB

... the slower you take it, the better the results.

I never thought I'd say this publicly but

Bob's right on target with that comment!

Allen

[BEELZEBOB]

hey now.

maybe ill wizz in your tank to test the cycle

[bstu22]

I used instant ocean salt and ive been adding kent marine calcium to get the calcium levels up a little bit. So do you think that I should add live rock to the system or since its still cycling would dead rock be acceptable in this situation?

[BEELZEBOB]

wait, do you have any rock in the tank?

youd want LR in the tank FOR THE DURATION of you cycle. if you cycle a tank, and then put new LR in, its going to practically start the whole process over.

you can add some lace rock to the tank, but it really wont do anything.

you intriduce the bacteria and micro organisms to the tank, by, adding the LR.

you should just about get LR in there nowish?

[bstu22]

well that sounds like a plan then I guess im going to go get some LR today!

[BigAl07]

You don't need/want to be ADDING any chemicals to the mix right now. Just get your LR and get the cycle to the next stage.

What are your calcium levels?

Allen