Should nitrates be higher?

[armyman16]

Hi, I have just competed my cycle, my tank has been running for 3-4 weeks and I have already gone through the huge ammonia and nitrite spike but my nitrates are still only at 20-40 ppm...I thought it was supposed to be between 80-160
I still have alot of diatoms on glass and sand bed and mate they are eating the nitrates?
I just need to know If I can start doing water changes and add fish!
Thanks, Cameron

 

[armyman16]

Oh and the nitrites and ammonia are at 0

 

[spoonman]

I would dose to 4ppm ammonia one more time and see if ammonia and nitrItes go to 0ppm (which will probably raise your nitrAtes) in 24 hours then do a couple big water changes to get the nitrAtes down and start to slowly add livestock.

 

[armyman16]

Why dose with more ammonia?

 

[armyman16]

Should I clean all the diatoms off the glass and bury the ones on the sand bed?

 

[Fish noob]

Why dose with more ammonia?

If you dose to 4ppm with ammonia and that ammonia and subsequent nitrites disappear within 24 hours, you are cycled.