Ammonia cycle of a new tank need help!

[MikesReef]

Ammonia cycle of a new tank! Hello guys looking for some info help!.



Tank readings are as follow:
as of today:


Calcium 440 ppm
Nitrite. 0.0
PH 7.8
Nitrate 0.0
KH 12dkh / 214.8 ppm
SG 1.022 / 29 ppt
Temp 78 degrees.
Ammonina 0.25







tank set up is now about 30 days out and still can't get the Ammonia down to 0.0. what could be the problem? is my tank still cycling. I have been very easy going by doing everything that is required. I have 2 reactor, one with carbon and one with GFO. I have a octopus skimmer rated fro 200 up t0 250 gal. also Have a sump with a refuge. I set it up by adding live sand and rock. one fish at a time after 2 weeks and now have 3 damsel, one clown fish and a goby. as of 3 day ago I started to add some coral and everything is looking very good. I have not yet done a water change. some told me not to until all of the cycle was done. could it be that my cycle has set and done in 30 days? is that possible? still I think need to bring down the Ammonia. should I do a water change? is it time yet? please help out, need experience reefer on this one not to offend anybody . thank you for your help.

 

[edd]

being that you added live stock, i would do a water change so you lower the amo.
you should of waited for tank to cycle before adding live animals.

 

[MikesReef]

Thank you for reply but!

but that funning part of it that the tank when thought a cycle. ammonia to nitrate to nitrite starting at 50ppm ammonia to 0 and then nitrite to 25 to 0 ppm and then to nitrate 25 to 0ppm and now everthing is good but Ammonia when back up to 25 and I do not use tap water all RO water. and I have new filter. could it had been a new introduction of a small rock into the tank that cause this to happen...

 

[mtxguy8]

Yeah, any live rock,live sand that you just added lately can cause i little spike. also if you have live sand and for any reason you shake it off can do it too.

 

[evoIX_Reefer]

depending on your test kit (likely API) it is probably "between" 0 and 25ppm. If it cycled then I would let it go on for another week then start adding. I use a 4 week period and no testing.

I do water changes after 2 weeks from start then once a week for the next two weeks before I start my normal 2 week water change.

You are only changing 10-20% of your water. It will reduce it not get rid of it.