A bit of help please.

[Jayelmay]

About 10 days ago I started my tank. I'm still pretty new at this. I did lots of reading before starting. I've got a 40g with about 50lbs rock. 10 dry the rest live. I've got the heater running at around 80. Two filters running (not sure if I should have them both on). One is a fluval c4 and the other is a h.o.t. magnum and I have what I believe is called a wave maker. Has the little propeller.

Ok, what I need some help with is understanding my test readings. I read about cycling. My levels seem odd. Maybe not. I'm using the API master kit.

Ph-8.0
Ammonia-.25-.5(hard to tell)
Nitrite-.25
Nitrate-20

 

[Jayelmay]

I tested again and attached a pic of the results. Has it cycled? Or possibly not cycled yet? Should I do a water change? I didn't do anything but add all the live rock. Was going to do the shrimp thing but was waiting for my test kit in the mail.

And also this is my first time posting. Having no replies I have to ask if I did something incorrectly.

 

[Bectan01]

I think it would be wise to add an ammonia source. You really want to see ammonia spike at around 4ppm to create a healthy bb colony.

 

[MacDracor]

Go ahead and add the shrimp, but you are correct that the tank is not cycled. Good on you for having lots of rock, a test kit, and asking questions!
When you have nothing but nitrates, do a water change and add fish slowly. Like one at a time with at least a week before the next, watching levels daily.

 

[Jayelmay]

Thank you both! I'll definitely add it and keep an eye on the levels.

 

[Jayelmay]

I would really appreciate some more help. My tank project was pushed on the back burner after my last reply since we recently had to take my daughter in for major surgery. I periodically checked the levels. I did add the shrimp the next day. And we noticed we had several snails and they seem to be doing fine. I just tested my water and the amm and nitrites are at 0 and the nitrates are pretty much as high as the card shows, like 80 or more. So again im not sure how to tell if it has cycled. Do the high nitrates mean it has? If so can someone explain the water changes a bit to me. Just mix my water in the bucket to the right salinity, siphon tank and replace? And keep testing probably too?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Bectan01]

Yeah I would say you may have cycled, how long was it? Also wise to add a heater and leave over night before adding to the tank...

 

[Ingy]

Because you have a40 gal tank with 40lbs of live rock, you may have only had a small cycle. With the shrimp in and only nitrates present after 2 weeks, sounds like your done. Time for a big water change to lower nitrates and your good to go. don't get a turbo snail when you have nitrates. they're pretty whimpy when it comes to that.
Time to start thinking about fish.
Good Luck, and I hope your daughter is doing well.

 

[spoonman]

If you can, I would dose to 4ppm ammonia with pure ammonia and see if it goes away in 24 hours. If that happens you will know for sure it is cycled and wont endanger any livestock.

 

[MacDracor]

Both of the above posts are excellent advice!
If you've finished cycling, you can add fish. If you only had a small cycle, you can add one fish but will need to watch the ammonia and nitrite levels very closely.
Either way, fish should be added slowly. Start with the least aggressive fish you're planning to add and wait at least a week before adding a second.
You are on your way my friend!

 

[Jayelmay]

Thank you all for the advice! And my daughter is doing great. Thanks!

I have a heater running already. I also have I uv filter that I got with the tank. When do you start using those? I read not to when you are cycling.

With adding ammonia. I ended up with a couple hermit crabs in my live rock. Would it hurt them?

 

[Animal-Chin]

Considering its been over a month an you have no amonia I think you're alright. Do a big water change to lower your nitrates and then you should be ok to add a fish. Having nitrates at 80 could stress the fish out though, you want to have them at 0 but having them in the 5 range is normal for most and should be fine. If you want to be patient I'd do like 20% water change then wait a couple of days and do it again until you've removed the nitrates. If you want to see a freakin fish in that thing I'd hit a 50% change and wait a day then go get my first fish. Option one is best, option 2 you're rolling the dice and could end up having to go get a new fish in a week or so...lol Good things come to those who wait in the salt water world.