Waters a mess during cycling? help!

[Raker333]

When I first started this tank the level were:

Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 0
Ammonia = 0
PH =higher than 8.6
alk =high
SG = -1.0265

These where the reading after I let my tank run with nothing in it for 3 days.

Now, 1.5 weeks later and with the addition of live rock w/ 4 days time in tank

my levels are looking odd (To me)

Nitrate = 5.0
Nitrite = .5
Ammonia = .25
PH = 8.4
alk = 2.9
SG = -1.0235

Ammonnia is down from day 2 with LR in tank
Is this normal?
Do I wait until levels are at 0 for trites,Trates and Ammonia before doing a 50% water change?

This is a 29g tank and only thing in it is LR with a baby Feather duster (Hitchhiker on LR)

Thanks for the help guys

Raker

 

[Raker333]

ok Checked the levels twice (once in morning before santa and once just now) to make sure I wasnt seeing things

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrates = 2.5
PH = 8.6 (Hoping this will go down with water change)
Alk = Normal
SG = -1.0235

I think my cycle is done!! woot

Guess it is time for a cleaning crew Woohooo
10 redleg hermits and a mix of snails (Nothing that grows to big)
Gonna put a cleaning crew in there and get levels stabilized then throw in 2 young clowns and hope for a pair

Should I change the filter in my penguin 250 when I change the water? or wait until a bit after the water change?

gonna kill 3 Aptasia when i do the water change (Joes juice)


Someone please chime in if you think I am heading in the wrong direction.

As always....

 

[seaham358]

You need to wait and not rush the clean up crew, at least another week before you add any live stock. The tank is NEW and needs to be stable before adding any critters. Nuke the aptasia asap no need to wait for a water change, the nuking will effect nothing.
Nothing good happens fast in this hobby, Only bad things happen fast so wait a week then think about the crew. In a new tank you probably have no algae for snails so adding too soon is not a good idea. Crabs are cool as long as you feed them something extra every few days.
Was the lr cured? local or shipped in?

 

[Raker333]

shipped in cured
From fishsupply.com
Fiji rock
I will wait a bit for the cleaning crew
Was really hard to hold the daughter/son/wife back and wait for the cycle

They asked "What are we waiting for?"
I would explain the ammonia eating bacteria-nitrite waste to nitriteeating bateria
and we are waiting for no ammonia and no Nitrites

I can wait....will stand by the tank with a large stick beating them back heheheh