Worried about Nitrate levels

[Aslam Kavde]

Hi folks,
I'm on the 28th day of cycling my tank using Red Sea's Mature Starter kit.
I have a RS Max C250
These are the parameters:
Temp 79
Salinity
35 ppt
Nitrate 1
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0.1
KH 8.5 / 3.02 meq
Still adding KH - Coralline Gro 2.2ml
Stopped adding N03 PO4-X from today

The following were added on the 24th day of the cycle:
Cleaner Shrimp
Fire Shrimp
3 x Trochus Turbo Snails
2 x Nassarius snails
Miniature Scarlet hermit crab

Do I need to be worried that last week my Nitrate levels were at 10 but today they have gone down to 1?
All advice/help is appreciated!

 

[Aslam Kavde]

Photo of tank attached with 2 of the crew posing!​

 

[ihavecrabs]

Hey Aslam,

I wouldn't be concerned. Parameters are usually pretty unstable while the tank gets settled in. I'd expect to see phosphates and nitrates continue to jump around on you.

My recommendation would be to make very small changes/doses and not to let either nitrate or phosphate bottom out. Keep testing!

 

[ihavecrabs]

Looking good so far!

 

[Aslam Kavde]

Hey Aslam,

I wouldn't be concerned. Parameters are usually pretty unstable while the tank gets settled in. I'd expect to see phosphates and nitrates continue to jump around on you.

My recommendation would be to make very small changes/doses and not to let either nitrate or phosphate bottom out. Keep testing!

Thank you