New tank nitrates and nitrites rising

[jasonjmcgee]

Set up my new tank last week with live sand in a 46g placed dead shrimp in tank to have the tank spike. First day levels were 0 and 0 now today I have tested nitrates 30 ppm and nitrites .8 ppm. Has my tank spiked or is it going to get higher? Can I start to add live already cured rock?

Thanks Jason

 

[_sludgefactory]

No way. You need to wait till those levels come down. Takes a little while.

 

[jasonjmcgee]

Is it a good idea to add live rock or base rock at this time?

 

[_sludgefactory]

I would add some base rock and maybe wait on the live rock for now. Unless you are going to get it shipped from some where. My thought here is if u are getting the live rock locally the nitrates might kill any good critters off. If you are getting it shipped, the shipping will probably kill them of anyway. Mind you that it may take up to a month to get those levels down. You could get a bacterial supplement to help.

 

[_sludgefactory]

I like this stuff.
http://m.petco.com/Petco/product/de...+Care|Aquarium+Products+Saltwater+Biozyme+8+g

 

[jasonjmcgee]

Thanks so much for your help isn't it a good idea to let it take it's course naturally? I ordered live purple Fiji rock and a friend is tearing his tank down this weekend so he said I could have it. Some LFS all give me different answers

 

[_sludgefactory]

The bacteria is the same that naturally occurs, it's just a boost and helps it cycle faster. That's what i used when i first set up and i was good in a week.

 

[jasonjmcgee]

Rock came in and 2 fish came in the package of live rock. Put the rocks in the water and 2 identical fish came out, what should i do with that. I can take pics maybe you would know what they are.

 

[Aquaph8]

You can cycle your tank with your live rock in it. Its fine but I would wait on adding any fish.

 

[_sludgefactory]

Well maybe they'll live. Got pics of the fish?

 

[jasonjmcgee]

yes i have pics i looked them up they look like dart fish let me figure out how to attach it

 

[_sludgefactory]

Cool i wanna see the freebies.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Typically, when you add rock, you do it all at one time because live rock is usually partially dead when you put it in your tank. This will cause another cycle in your tank if you add the live rock after your tank is already cycled.

 

[jasonjmcgee]

Ok i tried to attach it with my iphone to this chat but it wont work so i forwarded it to this desktop computer. Mallorie My tank has not cycled yet its only 7 days old today. As far as the fish i set the rock in the tank and 10 minutes later the wife was like hey fish are in the tank. I was like no way that would not work.

 

[jasonjmcgee]

http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1_2240520_ALNFv9EAAV2RT1L%2BWwIHQ3GBKPM&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1

 

[_sludgefactory]

Didn't work.

 

[jasonjmcgee]

 

[_sludgefactory]

Sweet! Look like bar gobies. They look happy and healthy and probably hearty enough to live through a cycling.

 

[jasonjmcgee]

DKERNS Thanks for the vote of confidence for me and them I HOPE they can make it otherwise if they start to look bad i would love to drop them at the LFS. I have had tanks for over 18 years but this is my first full marine tank. They have actually taken to the tank as well as a guppie in i freshwater. I just have NO clue how they could make it alive threw a 24 hr transport. Do you think it would be best for them to take and cycle the tank without them. ?? Thanks Jason

 

[_sludgefactory]

Up to u really. I feel like they would be ok. Hell if they made it through shipping, inside of a rock for 24+ hours and still look that healthy I'd say those are some pretty tough fish. Pulling them out and taking them somewhere else would just bed more unneeded stress.