Cycling new tank

Paulina Rodriguez · Dec 9, 2018

So this is my current situation with my cycling tank.

Still have some ammonia. Nitrite is still high and nitrates are way high.

Should I worry about any of it? Try to make the levels of the nitrate go down?
I now some people add carbon should I add some? Protein skimmer?

This is my first time setting up a tank, so I’m new to all of this.

Tia

Cruz Mc5 · Dec 9, 2018

As long as you are doing a fishless cycle I’d just let it keep doing it’s thing. Once the ammonia and nitrites are gone then you can start doing water changes to get Nitrates down. Granted, I’m new to this as well, so I’d see what others say as well.

Old Fritz · Dec 9, 2018

Most people here would reccomend a protein skimmer, it helps a lot with maintenance and maintaining proper parameters especially for corals. If it is just a fish only tank i wouldn't say its necessary. I'd do a water change because it looks like your readings are maxed out. Dont vacuum the gravel as thats where most of your nitrifying bacteria is along with your filter and liverock. Once you start adding fish and stuff then you'll want to vacuum the gravel to pull up excess waste. Your nitrates dont come out naturally in a tank unless you have a huge tank so nitrates you remove by doing water changes

Old Fritz · Dec 9, 2018

But also with a nitrate concentration so high doing a 50% water change will theoretically get you down to about 80 ppm with where you are at now. Which is not a safe number for fish or inverts

SPR1968 · Dec 10, 2018

Hi there and firstly welcome to R2R it’s great to have you with us!

You might find the following articles help you out and answer most of your questions, and if your unsure just ask away.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

Paulina Rodriguez · Dec 10, 2018

Thanks guys. I will let it do it’s thing for another week or so n see what happens then I’ll do a water change.

dbjonesjr · Dec 10, 2018

I have found after cycling four tanks since starting the hobby that once my nitrates reach that the ammonia and nitrite stop getting processed. So I would recommend a 50% water change if possible.

Barry_Cuda · Dec 10, 2018

That high nitrate reading is likely an artifact of the test kit's methodology and the presence of nitrites. I've been told here that most nitrate test kits, including API, work by converting some of the nitrate to nitrite and then reading that, with a multiplication factor involved in interpreting the result. So a few PPM of nitrite can cause a false sky-high nitrate result. I'd wait until your nitrite shows zero and *then* nest for nitrates.