Tank Cycling (repost from Fish only thread)

[Raker333]

(Note to moderator; just reposted here in case some folks don't look in Fish only section,delete either but leave one please

When I first started this tank the level were:

Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 0
Ammonia = 0
[acronym:fc148d6c69="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:fc148d6c69] =higher than 8.6
[acronym:fc148d6c69="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:fc148d6c69] =high
[acronym:fc148d6c69="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:fc148d6c69] = -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
[acronym:fc148d6c69="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:fc148d6c69] = 8.4
[acronym:fc148d6c69="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:fc148d6c69] = 2.9
[acronym:fc148d6c69="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:fc148d6c69] = -1.0235

Ammonnia is down from day 2 with [acronym:fc148d6c69="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:fc148d6c69] 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 [acronym:fc148d6c69="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:fc148d6c69] with a baby Feather duster (Hitchhiker on [acronym:fc148d6c69="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:fc148d6c69])

Thanks for the help guys

Raker

_________________
Thanks a Bunch!!

Raker

[aznbob]

The tank is still cycling. Water change isn't really needed yet. That would just prolong the cycling. Give it time. Your ammonia should slowly drop to 0 then nitrites and finally nitrates. But for some nitrates never go to 0 so shoot for 0 - 10 [acronym:acf5925094="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:acf5925094].

[Konrade]

Don't do the 50 percent water change it will take all of your good bacteria out. Keep testing until your levels are good. Also, don't run the skimmer while you are cycling.

[binaryterror]

you arent supposed to run the skimmer when cycling? when are you suppoed to do the first water change?

[AquaReefer]

The reason there was a spike in your levels was the adding of [acronym:dc0aa36f64="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:dc0aa36f64]. Most of the time there is die off from [acronym:dc0aa36f64="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:dc0aa36f64] when it is shipped or picked up and so on. Because of the rock being out of water some things die. Once you add it into water it washes off and causes a spike in your tank. Thats why you are supposed to cure [acronym:dc0aa36f64="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:dc0aa36f64] before putting into a established tank. Yours on the other hand is still new. This normal and is just helping the cycling prosses. Also dont do a 50 percent water change like konrade said. I only did a 20 percent way back when my tank was done cycling and everything was fine. [acronym:dc0aa36f64="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:dc0aa36f64]