I have a tank set up but no skimmer or filter running as of yet. I added some live sand a while ago. Would the live sand start a cycle? If so, are these typical results:

Saltwater Tests (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pYTMVDhAsNukj4AmKPsEoEQ)

Why is my pH jumping like this?

I believe one of the Podcast on Cycling, Rob mentions that you will need Liverocks to seed the sand. Something about when you chrun up the sand, the aerobic conditions will cause you to lose most of the bacteria in that sand.

Have you checked out that podcast episode yet?

You need some sort of medium to host the bacteria that're gonna grow during the cycle. A lot of people use LR for that. The LS will do some of that, but depending on the size and type of tank you're setting up, you prolly won't want to rely on that. Also, the bacteria that generally lives under your sand is anaerobic, which means if you mess around with the sand and stir them out of it, they'll die and your cycle will be back to square one.

You need a source of ammonia to cycle, so I don't know whats going on with just the LS... from your numbers it looks like you had a little cycle. Keep in mind that every time you add LR you're going to have a mini cycle, so imo its best to get as much of your LR in the tank as you can at one time to avoid stressing out your livestock and then just waiting out the longer cycle.

I dunno why your pH is jumping around like that... Whats your lighting cycle like? That effects the pH.

Do yourself a favor and start testing your water every day or every other day, not just when you add stuff to the tank. You'll get a much clearer picture of your cycle and whats going on in your tank.

Also, you might wanna raise up the salinity a bit. 1.021 is sort of low. All the LFSs I go to keep their tanks at 1.025.

I would throw some uncured live rock in there, I let it sit in the dark for 4-6 weeks. I agree with Ocelot, you should increase the SG to 1.024-1.025. I wouldn't worry about ph swings at this point.

Yeah, I used uncured LR to cycle my tank. It worked nicely, but the stink was terrible. It went away after a week or so, but... be ready for that. Make sure you've got a good skimmer and a few powerheads set up if you plan on adding it... they helped get rid of the smell.

I am slowly building my tank, so I have not had the money to add the live rock at this point. I am not really interested in starting the cycle at this point because I dont have everything purchased and set up. I was just practicing using the test ket to get used to it and was just curious about why the readings are jumping.

So lighting will effect pH? Whats a good length of time to leave the lights on with nothing in the tank?

I am slowly going to raise the salinity before I add anything. Right now, I am practicing trying to balance and keep levels consistant.

Another thing that will effect ph is calcium and alkalinity. I recommend getting test kits for those and see if you are having jumps there as well.
With nothing in the tank most people leave it in the dark. For that matter most people cycle the tank with little to no light to try to minimise the algae blooms you get during the cycle.
HTH

Yeah, you don't hardly any light during the cycle. Since nothings living in there, you don't have to worry about killing anything. You could raise the salinity up pretty fast.

I know what you mean about money problems :/ I've been saving up everything I don't have to spend for the last two months to get everything I need to set up my MH. I can't wait... the crappy florescent light I have on it now makes the water look yellow and nasty :(

Ok, I will leave the lights off until I get everything set up. I was thinking the lack of light might kill the live sand.

I am getting frustrated with my LFS's. One store is selling crappy equipment from the 80's, and his fish are all swimming sideways. The other store I visited tonight is trying to sell me items for double what I can find them on the internet. He has a coralife needle wheel skimmer for $240 and says I need to buy a $119 pump for the sump and a $80 pump for the skimmer. I believe that pump is about $170 at the most and has a pump with it.

Anyone have any links for used equipment like overflow boxes and such?

I generally find lower prices for equipment and dry goods on the net.

yea me too. Try marinedepot.com

Ok, I will leave the lights off until I get everything set up. I was thinking the lack of light might kill the live sand.

I am getting frustrated with my LFS's. One store is selling crappy equipment from the 80's, and his fish are all swimming sideways. The other store I visited tonight is trying to sell me items for double what I can find them on the internet. He has a coralife needle wheel skimmer for $240 and says I need to buy a $119 pump for the sump and a $80 pump for the skimmer. I believe that pump is about $170 at the most and has a pump with it.

Anyone have any links for used equipment like overflow boxes and such?

I've yet to have a good experience with any LFS. They give me bad advice, sell crappy overpriced outdated equipment, and just kinda suck in general. So... if you can, don't deal with them. Unless you can find a good place, of course.

Marinedepot.com is good, but their shipping is kinda slow.

I shopped around for a lot of my big equipment to find the best prices:

Decently priced LR: http://www.exoticfish.com/results.cfm?cat=0|1977|1690|0|0&

Good prices on skimmers and powerheads: Welcome to the Aquarium (http://www.thesaltycritter.com)

If you still need an Ro/Di filter, here: www.airwaterice.com Typhoon 5 stage RODI reefkeeper with clear sumps (http://airwaterice.com/product/1TYPHOON)

Just shop around, you can find deals and good prices if you look hard enough.

Thats tons of help, thank you

I've been buying a lot lately from premiumaquatics.com and drsfosterandsmith.com. Great customer service and speedy shipping from both places.