Water params at start of cycle

[gear-head]

6 hours after adding 45 lbs LR to a new 55g, water params are:

Temp: 80.8 F

SG: 1.025 (using Refractometer)

rest of these using Red Sea Marine Lab Master test kit:
pH : 7.8
Alk : Normal
NH3/NH4 : 0.925 ppm
NO2 : >1 ppm (test kit doesn't read any higher)
NO3 : 10 ppm

Anything to worry about at this point?
Should I let things go for a few days?
How did pH drop from 8.2 yesterday when all I did was add the rock?

Comments and suggestions?

[gear-head]

Anyone?

[indy]

Personaly, I'd lower temp to about 78. Was the rock cured or uncured? If the LR is just coraline covered, don't worry too much about the water right away, test again next week. The algae will be fine. If its covered in good stuff, test often and do small water changes to keep the good stuff alive.

[darb2]

ph is lower in the am. Don't worry too much yet. If your lr came with hitchikers that you want to save than some water changes are in your future.
your temp is fine. Do you have Ac or a chiller? I'm close to you, and the recent heat can bump up temps. My tank swings from 81.5 to 82.5. It is better than 80 to 82.5.

[gear-head]

It's Fiji rock, so there's no hitchhikers, just coraline. I did a 20% water change last night, but I think I'll leave it alone now and test again in a week.

Thanks guys.

[jmc]

gear-head,

My lr from liveaquaria.com should arrive any time today. I ordered the 'premium select Fiji' 45 lb. lot as well. I went with next day shipping instead of 2nd day. Which did you do? I already have 20 lbs of lr in my tank (going on 3rd week of cycle). I have 1 chromis as well. So far no amonia spike (steady at .25 or less) and other parameters are as if tank has completed cycle.

I'm considering adding new rock directly to display (if it arrives in good shape) instead of curing separately as this will just extend the current cycle a little longer. My tank is 46 gal with wet/dry sump filtration. Will this put my Chromis in jeopardy?

If curing separately from display, will airstones provide enough water circulation? I'm trying to avoid spending a lot of extra $ just to cure rock.

jmc

[gear-head]

Based on the fact that it was Fiji, and probably wouldn't have hitchikers on it anyway, I went with the std 2 day. It's warm out, and the rocks arrived wet and moist.

I can't answer the other part. I have a brand new empty tank, and am hoping die off on the rock will be enough to start the cycle. If I don't see an ammonia spike in a week or two, I'll throw in a dead shrimp.