nitrates

[NanoMan]

my ammonia and nitrites are not even showing up on my tests
my nitrates are about as high as they can get.
is this a part of the cycle?
so they will drop? or do i need to do a partial water change?

[OrionGirl]

Just a refresher--what is in your tank, and for how long?

Often, live rock and a good seeder of live sand will reduce or eliminate ammonia/nitrite spikes. Also, if you haven't already, have your test results verified at an LFS--sometimes test kits go bad.

[NanoMan]

60lbs live rock
4''dsb
prizm skimmer
the kit is new
tank has been cycling for 2 weeks
no other life in tank
also out of the 3 shrimp i used 1 still remains in a jelly like state
should i remove it?

[OrionGirl]

Yep, pull the shrimp. Looks as though you probably had enough live rock in there to precent any sort of spike. I'd say you're good to stock.

[NanoMan]

thx oriongirl
nice buck
i got my first one this year with a bow

[Toooloud]

remove the shrimp.. and start doing water changes.. water changes are required as your live rock will not remove all the nitrates, so you still want to do waterchanges.. With that high of nitrates..

do 5% ever other day for the first week.. then move to a 15% every week untill they are zero.

[WAR EAGLE]

nitrates have to be really really really high to worry about. If your NO3 is high (with 0 TAN and 0 NO2) it means both nitrobacter and nitrosomonis have established themselves and your ammonia to nitrate cycle is complete. Just do a partial water exchange.