Cycling help

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Mclovin36

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Jun 2, 2016
Messages
3
I set up a 55 gal saltwater tank about 5 weeks ago and have been patiently cycling and waiting. The ammonia is 8+ the nitrite is 5+ and as of today I see nitrate has risen up to 80. I'm curious why there is still such high levels of ammonia if the process is happening. The ph has been around 7.4 or lower and in the last few days the tank has become rather cloudy and a silty mud looking material has started to accumulate all over the tank. Not sure what my next step is.
 
You are establishing the bacteria base it takes to consume ammonia and nitrite. It takes time for them to grow. How are you adding ammonia to your tank? Sounds like you added so much it actually slowed the process down.
 
I added mysis shrimp a few weeks ago and it was probably too much. With the hitchhikers on my live rock dying I'm sure that has the added ammonia spike also.
 
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