How long to see an ammonia spike ghost feeding?

[aws2266]

I'm cycling a 120g by ghost feeding. I've been adding 1-2 cubes of some crappy frozen fish food by fish hate. The ammonia quickly rose to .50ppm after the first day but stalled and is now at .25ppm. Should I be looking for a larger spike to come or was that it? Keep in mind this is a system with no live rock, I did add about 15g of water from another tank when senting this up.

 

[brandon429]

This type of cycle isn’t designed to get a spike. You may not get one, yet still be cycled- to the degree of surface area you’re providing

so if the tank was empty you’re cycling the walls not the water


and if there’s no rocks you’re cycling sand and walls


why no rocks


we track feed-only cycles and they take 30 days like a cycling chart says, the water from the living system does speed things up but still wait a total of thirty days, put in rock now ideally if this is to be a rock inclusive system

testing isn’t required, your kits aren’t sensitive enough to be used for this type of cycle it’s all a matter of counting the number of days for the boosters at hand and whatever catch points have been in contact during the wait will be cycled

 

[brandon429]

Here’s a perfect model for feed only cycling no bottle bac.

Build Thread - My SPS Waterbox Peninsula Mini 15

Thanks for the acknowledgement @brandon429 ! I see these threads all the time but I don't get involved. Everyone has their opinions and that's okay. Unfortunately, we are in a world of impatience coupled with each company's ability to market their products efficiently. My formula errs to the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[aws2266]

I should have mentioned I used dry rock

 

[brandon429]

I’m 100% certain it’ll be ready in a 30 day total period like howaboutme’s was. Nice old school cycle here, it’s rare for anyone to believe in natural sourcing any more we have all been trained to click click click ship

 

[aws2266]

Thanks comrades. Patience isn't my strongest of traits. lol