My tank is already producing nitrites? !?

[Lowstorm]

So i started my tank with dry/dead sand and rock. Added some fish food yesterday. 30 gallons of water-salty of couse!

Today for giggles i decided to test ammonia (1.25 ish) which makes me think yay! Then comes the for giggles part and pulled out the trite kit. Apparently i have .25 already. I didn't add any bacteria. Whaaaaat?!? This isnt supposed to happen.

Why would i already have nitrites? Is that even possible? I wish it was lol. I cannot think of a way the bacteria could be in there already. Unless fw bacteria can easily convert to salt. Its a used 125 that had fw in it until November.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You are curing your rock the same time you're trying to get a cycle going. I'm sure you have nitrates as well. That rock will leach out all that "death," and in the process load that tank with nitrites and nitrates.

 

[Lowstorm]

I was under the impression it would be weeks though, not days.

 

[Lowstorm]

Sorry. I've always done this with live rock ordered from so far away the stench of death hailed the start of the cycle.

 

[Diesel]

Can you post a pic of your tank?
It gives us a general idea how your tank looks like............ well that was a lie ............ we just love pictures here
Any way........ you got the picture, right?

 

[Lowstorm]

Lol! Look in my tank build

I laid everything down in the water so its a big mess right now. Columns and arches will be re set up soon though. Monday I'll retest though. I work 12+ hours on the weekends. Come home to sleep, shower and go back.