cycling tank/water testing

Hi!  My tank has been in the process of cycling with live sand, rock(not live) and a raw shrimp since March 1.  I've checked ammonia levels twice. (I'm working on the patience thing, not sure how often I should be testing)  Last TH. "I think" it was between 1.5 and 3 and today "I think" it was about 3. Not sure it's hard to tell.  So I'm hoping it's spiking now.  Does that sound about right?  and how long on average do you think it'll take until the ammonia level gets to zero.  Anyone whose down a similar cycling process who can tell me about how long I can expect it to take all in all?  Thanks!!!!!!!

 

the rock had been in a tank that went through the flood so it would had already cycled/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/angry.gif so everything else was lost, but the rock was saved and bleached clean.  Do I need to watch for/do anything in particular with the dead stuff/decomposing or would the bleach have taken care of that? 

 

Thanks rc  Yep I checked Sunday and my NO2 is spiking now and my ammonia is down to 0.  Gotta question about timing of things.  I've got some bad timing coming up as I'll be leaving this Friday for Spring Break and won't be back until March 29th.  Should I try and do my water change/add cleanup crew this week before I leave (if NO2 is zero by then) or would it be ok to wait till I get back?

 

Nope, must've missed that one!! Nitrite is still really high darn it, so I don't think it'll be to zero by the time I leave Friday.  Tank ended up having a small leak so have been having to top it off every couple of days.  Had to take out some water last night to fix up the leak and had to turn off the pump for a couple days while the silicone dries now before can fill it up again.  It scares me having the pump off, but hopefully it won't mess everything up!!  So, probably do the water change right before I leave and wait on the clean-up crew until after break.  I'm hoping it won't need so much topping off over break too, don't remember my tank needing that much top off, once a week wasn't it??  I think I'll have my parents come over and check on it a couple of times (they owe me for all the times I watered their plants when they were on vacation!!!)

 

So far so good, leak might be fixed!  How long should I expect my nitrite to spike for?  It's still really high and has been for almost 2 weeks now.  I'm just getting anxious, am hoping to be able to start getting some critters in there when I get back from spring break. 

 

Thanks for the graph!  That is very helpful!!  It makes me feel better that my nitrite is still so high then, I was afraid I'd done something wrong.  Thanks again!!!!!!!!!

 

Good news!  I got home last night and checked my water and everything is ready!!!!!!!!  Cycling is finally finished, so thank goodness I must have done something right.  I'm very excited to actually start putting things into it now this week.  I've already gotten good advice on here about moving slow, not putting too much in at once.  Thanks again everyone for all your help.   
You don't know how badly I wanted to grab some coral, seahorses, fish , etc. I saw scuba diving in Puerta Vallarta last week, but  I held off.  It was beautifull though, even saw sting rays, an octopus inked at us,  an eel, held a puffer fish and a starfish.   Now it's time to start creating my own ocean back here in snowy Iowa!!!!!!!!!! brrrrrr

 

It's a 29 gallon tank.  I'm thinking starting with some crabs, then I would also like 2 clownfish and 1-2 other fish(not sure which kinds yet for sure), a couple tubeworms, a cleaner shrimp, and of course coral.  I'm not sure which order is best to add things in.  Any advice would be very helpful.  Thanks!