Nitrogen Cycle Question

[ShallowH2OSailor]

I have set up to condition a 36gal. tank with 2-3 in. of CaribSeaflor substrake, 40 lbs of live rock and 4- Black Mollies (recommended by fish store person) . Have been monitoring (Testing) the water for approximately 30 days. Ammonia remains @0 ppm, Nitrite remains @ 0 ppm, Nitrate remains @ 5-6 ppm,PH @ 7.9. I keep looking for the Ammonia rise and start the nitrogen cycle. Can I expect this to happen soon, or am I doing something wrong? <_<

[StephenA]

You should have seen something by now. Was the rock cured? and Did you get live sand from anyone?

[MikeDeL]

Also if the rock wasnt cured or fully cured, did you start testing when you added the rock or after you added the fish?

[GaryP]

You may have missed the ammonia spike. Its usually the first thing you see, so you are probably OK. Besides the ammonia spike may have killed the mollies. They are like canaries in the coal mine. You can't get ammonia without going through ammonia stage first. It sounds like you are close to being good to go.

[ShallowH2OSailor]

Thanks, I started testing as soon as the rock was added. I don't thnk the rock was cured. I added the fish approximately 3 days later. Is it possible that the ammonia stage occured during a short period of time (2 days) while no testing was conducted?

[StephenA]

Where and how did you get the rock?

[eric]

I'm with Gary. You just missed catching it with a test. And I think he was saying you couldn't get the *nitrate* without going through the ammonia cycle. I'd bet it was rock that sat in the LFS for at least some time and started building up the bacteria. Or did you attempt to kickstart it by adding some bacteria? Or you've been doing frequent mass water changes. But again, I'd bet you missed seeing the ammonia spikes.

[StephenA]

My bets are on missed it too.

[Thunderkat]

Look in the directions for your test kits and run a cal on your ammonia. You may have a defective ammonia test.

[Sunfish]

You'd have seen the ammonia spike within the first month. If was going to happen, youlwould have seen it within the first few days. Ammonia happens first, then nitrite, then nitrate. A spike could have happened and only been a few hours in duration and you never saw it.