Couple questions about a (maybe?) stalled cycle

[Oceanman]

Hello, I’m working through a cycle and have a few questions.

first, I have 0 ammonia and nitrates have been stuck above 5.0 ppm nitrite for about 2 weeks now. I saw somewhere that high nitrites can actually stall a cycle and I’m wondering if I should do a water change to cut them down? My nitrates have just started showing up on my tests about 2 days ago and they’re currently at about 10 ppm. I’m using sinking pellets to seed the nitrogen cycle and there’s quite a few still in the tank, so I’m thinking that a water change can’t hurt since it should still be in equilibrium as the pellets will still be feeding the nitrogen cycle.

second, as I’ve been cycling, I’ve had my skimmer off. I just turned it on yesterday (about 3 weeks into the cycle) and I’m wondering if that was the right move or not?

third, I’ve been running a carbon bag in the media basket throughout the cycle. Is that a good move or not? Also, how often should I be replacing it?

fourth, I bought the tank secondhand and it came with a box that had square shaped cylinders of a very porous and brittle substance. I have no idea what it is as the box is in Chinese but I just assumed it probably goes in the media basket as some sort of filtration or possibly surface area for the bacteria to live in. Anyone have any idea what it is and if I should be changing it?

last, is there such thing as too much food in the tank to seed the nitrogen cycle? I don’t have a ton of it in there, but I’m wondering if I should swap my filter that is a bit gunned up with decomposing food or if this would slow down the cycle. This is my first post so I’ll see if I can attach a picture to go along with question number four. Thank you in advance and happy reefing!

 

[Oceanman]

I also read an article online about nitrites not affecting corals, so I figured I’d get my xenia island started early as ammonia has been at 0 for about 2 weeks. Xenia instantly shriveled up and is absolutely toasted right now, so I’m thinking that article may have been BS. If I’m wrong could anyone provide insight of what I should look for before adding beginner corals in my parameters? As of now I’m assuming I just need to finish out the nitrogen cycle but if there’s something else let me know please and thank you!

 

[Gedxin]

Hey, welcome to SCR!

first, I have 0 ammonia and nitrates have been stu

If you have visible pellets in your tank still after 3 weeks - it's unlikely you're actually at 0 ammonia.

What test kits are you using? API are notoriously misleading. Go for Salifert, Red Sea or Hanna.

Did you use any instant bacteria cycle solution?

second, as I’ve been cycling, I’ve had my skimmer off. I just turned it on yesterday (about 3 weeks into the cycle) and I’m wondering if that was the right move or not?

Kill the skimmer, it's going to mess with your bacteria population.

third, I’ve been running a carbon bag in the media basket throughout the cycle. Is that a good move or not? Also, how often should I be replacing it?

Remove the carbon, you don't need to remove pollutants at this stage. Water changes will suffice.

fourth, I bought the tank secondhand and it came with a box that had square shaped cylinders of a very porous and brittle substance. I have no idea what it is as the box is in Chinese but I just assumed it probably goes in the media basket as some sort of filtration or possibly surface area for the bacteria to live in. Anyone have any idea what it is and if I should be changing it?

More surface area means more bacteria room to grow. This probably good to keep in a shaded area (ideally sump.)

last, is there such thing as too much food in the tank to seed the nitrogen cycle? I don’t have a ton of it in there, but I’m wondering if I should swap my filter that is a bit gunned up with decomposing food or if this would slow down the cycle. This is my first post so I’ll see if I can attach a picture to go along with question number four. Thank you in advance and happy reefing!

Absolutely is a thing as too much food at any part of the nitrogen cycle ('complete' or starting.) You'll significantly reduce the process if things are out of porportion.

Personally I'd recommend you remove the majority of whatever pellets you still see in the tank. Only keep single digits, you could even smush a few I think.

 

[Gedxin]

I also read an article online about nitrites not affecting corals, so I figured I’d get my xenia island started early as ammonia has been at 0 for about 2 weeks. Xenia instantly shriveled up and is absolutely toasted right now, so I’m thinking that article may have been BS. If I’m wrong could anyone provide insight of what I should look for before adding beginner corals in my parameters? As of now I’m assuming I just need to finish out the nitrogen cycle but if there’s something else let me know please and thank you!

Measure your other values. What's your salinity (specific gravity or ppt.) What's your alk measuring? What salt are you using? What temp are you at? Xenia needs light to live, what are you using?

 

[drexel]

If you didn't add any bacteria or live rock (from established system or ocean), then your cycle is non-existent to begin with. You need bacteria to consume the food you're adding. Absolutely no skimmer or chemical filtration should be used during the cycle. There's no reason to measure anything in your tank other than temp and salinity. All others parameters are useless at this point and would be a waste of testing reagents. I would honestly advise you to pick up a book on reefing, it will get you a lot further than any videos or forums at this point. You need to truly understand the basics of biology in reef tanks if you're going to be successful. I'm not trying to a jerk here, but the info contained in the books have been vetted and researched, unlike someone's opinion on a YouTube video or forum blog. It's this basic information that will stay with you and get you to where you need to be.
Bacteria to be added in the beginning of the cycle include and are not limited to MicroBacter 7, PNS Substrate Sauce, Dr. Tim's One and Only, AquaVitro Seed, etc...
Books to read. The Reef Aquarium 3 volume set by Sprung & Delbeek, The Marine Aquarium Reference: Systems and Invertebrates by Martin Moe, Aquarium Corals: Eric Borneman, The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium: Fossa & Nilsen

 

[five.five-six]

If you didn't add any bacteria or live rock (from established system or ocean), then your cycle is non-existent to begin with. You need bacteria to consume the food you're adding. Absolutely no skimmer or chemical filtration should be used during the cycle. There's no reason to measure anything in your tank other than temp and salinity. All others parameters are useless at this point and would be a waste of testing reagents. I would honestly advise you to pick up a book on reefing, it will get you a lot further than any videos or forums at this point. You need to truly understand the basics of biology in reef tanks if you're going to be successful. I'm not trying to a jerk here, but the info contained in the books have been vetted and researched, unlike someone's opinion on a YouTube video or forum blog. It's this basic information that will stay with you and get you to where you need to be.
Bacteria to be added in the beginning of the cycle include and are not limited to MicroBacter 7, PNS Substrate Sauce, Dr. Tim's One and Only, AquaVitro Seed, etc...
Books to read. The Reef Aquarium 3 volume set by Sprung & Delbeek, The Marine Aquarium Reference: Systems and Invertebrates by Martin Moe, Aquarium Corals: Eric Borneman, The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium: Fossa & Nilsen

Books are good!

I think I loaned out my copy of “the modern coral reef aquarium” 10 years ago.

Cycles take patience. In a real sense, tanks are always cycling, it‘s jsut that the cycles get much smaller and shorter.

nitrosomonas and nitrobacter bacteria will colonize in the tank regardless if you manually seed it or not. Some of the commercial products will speed up the process and the better ones will give you a wider diversity of bacterium. Figure 4-6 weeks of initial cycle and 6 months-1year before it really settles down. 2 years or so for a really stable established tank.

 

[drexel]

There are two things new reefers (and old) can do that will advance their understanding of this hobby and move them forward towards long term success. Befriend a veteran reefer who you trust and books. Books offer an instant reference and a trusted veteran reefer will give you their experience that backs that knowledge/information up. Forums like this offer an opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and to share experiences (and ask questions). Books are the missing link to a successful reef in this new age of reefing. Amazon used book store and other online book stores have tons of books for a fraction of their original price. That's money well spent.