Cycle Complete?

[Semper.Reefing]

Good afternoon everyone!
I’ve been doing saltwater for a little over two years and just set up a new waterbox 20. I filled it up and started the cycle on April 7th and used fritz turbo start. Saw the ammonia come and go, nitrite came as expected within a few days and of course I’m seeing nitrate. For the past week my nitrite has been reading at 1ppm and my nitrate keeping rising (now 15ppm). Should I go ahead and do a water change if my nitrate level is this high? I’m not seeing nitrites go down. I’m using API test kit. Save your breathe…I know they’re not reliable for accurate readings…but I’ve found them useful when cycling just to see if there are ammonia or nitrite levels in the tank. Anyways, what do now? I’m in no rush. Planning to keep lights off for another month anyways. Coral further down the road.. thanks in advance!
Also, only running filter sock, sponges that came with The tank, MarinePure spheres and recently added a bag of chemi pure elite.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Pic fyt

 

[Garf]

Pic fyt

Nothin wrong with API. If your ammonia is low, your good.

 

[Spare time]

Once nitrite hits 0 its pretty much good to go. Nitrite conversion to nitrate finishes last as its the bacteria divides less frequently compare to the ones that handle the ammonia to nitrite conversion

Nitrate under 20ppm tends to be easiest to control. I usually like 5-15ppm

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Once nitrite hits 0 its pretty much good to go. Nitrite conversion to nitrate finishes last as its the bacteria divides less frequently compare to the ones that handle the ammonia to nitrite conversion

Nitrate under 20ppm tends to be easiest to control. I usually like 5-15ppm

I think im going to do a 25% water change tonight bc my nitrate is creeping up to 20. I usually keep it around 10. I think the api test kit must be faulty If it’s still reading 1ppm Nitrite even though my NO3 is going up

 

[Garf]

I think im going to do a 25% water change tonight bc my nitrate is creeping up to 20. I usually keep it around 10. I think the api test kit must be faulty If it’s still reading 1ppm Nitrite even though my NO3 is going up

Nitrite effects your nitrate test. Nowt wrong with a water change though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd just confirm again that ammonia drops to zero after dosing and it's good to go. Nothing else matters, IMO.

 

[brandon429]

Does my tank have a problem??

Hey all I'm slowly banging my head against the wall as I don't know what up with my tank!! Can't get thr nitrates down must have changed almost 70% last 2 weeks in my 130 gall tank (4 months old) and it's still 20- 40ppm and I keep getting the odd ammonia spike? Just changed 25% and now my...

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