Are these levels right?

[arminkropp]

I've been cycling for about 16 days now and after all levels spiked my ammonia is at 0 and nitrites are at 0.1 for the last 4 days. My question is my nitrates were at 50-80ppm last week and now are at 5ppm. why would they drop? I cleaned my canister filter 3 days ago cause I noticed the flow was down. I guess die off from the LR and "dust" from the sand plugged it up a bit. Would cleaning it cause the drop? Another thing I noticed is that green "slimy" looking algae is growing in abundance. I think its hair algae, Would it cause the nitrates to fall? I know that plant life feeds on nitrates.

Finally, after my cycle is done and I've done a major water change, how long should I wait to add a cleaning crew?

Thanks again all!

[lando]

The cleaning certainly could have helped with the NO3. The green hair algea could be from too much light, too much NO3 or too much PO4. What type of water did you use to start the tank? After you do a major water change I would wait 1-2day and recheck levels. If all is well go for the clean-up crew.

[arminkropp]

I'm using RO/DI water PO4 is at 0.1ppm
my light is at 12 hours, should I go less?
any other suggestion?