What causes the ammonia and nitrites?

[townjas]

I put some green star polyps and some hammer coral in to see how it does

 

[Eienna]

You have your heater, right?

 

[townjas]

Yeah a small 1. With it being summer I don't need much

 

[reggaedrummin]

I'd recommend filling it entirely and running it until all your parameters are stable before adding any livestock. I understand that filling a large tank is a big task, but stable parameters are the key to success in this hobby. Once your new setup is stable, then acclimate your livestock to it. With respect, it sounds like you're trying to avoid wasting a few gallons of water or short cut the process and the only thing I can assume is that it's to save a few bucks. If that's the case, please consider whether you're really ready to setup and care for a tank this size, as the water is a nominal expense when maintaining an aquarium. If I'm off base there, then perhaps it just didn't occur to you to start full, but either way, that would be my recommendation. If you're going to be making your own water then get to mixing. If you'll be buying it from a lfs, then invest in several good quality containers and go fill them. Most lfs will have extras they can loan you for a day beyond what you buy for your own maintenance, to assist with starting up a bigger tank and they're usually happy to do it when you're buying water, containers, skimmer, lighting, lr, sand, and all the rest that goes along with starting a new tank. Plus they know if they help you today, down the road you'll return for livestock. Also, if you have ammonia or nitrites at all, you're not done cycling. Google "nitrate cycle"and read the wiki page that explains the cycle. The write-up is great and has pictures that help explain it. When starting a new tank, you should see ammonia first, and both nitrites and nitrates at zero. Then as ammonia starts to drop, you'll start seeing nitrites. As nitrites move towards zero, you'll start to see nitrates. Only after all nitrites are absent, and ideally after nitrates are back to zero, should you begin stocking. With cured rock, this process should be faster and possibly not even noticed but patience is recommended as losing livestock is expensive and only slows the process.

 

[townjas]

I did the transfer yesterday. After having 2 fish in the tank for 2 days with no problems and clean tests for 2 days. But I also put 100 lbs of cured live rock in the new tank