Cycling Test Levels

C

coolisjade

AC Members
Mar 4, 2007
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Hi I'm the person that is currently setting up a new salt water tank, going on for 6 days now. I've had 3 fish die so far and bought 17 lb of live rock for a 25 galllon tank using 1 402 power head, a fluval 205, heater, aquaglo and marine glow light. ( more details here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100438)

here are my test results:

Ph = 7.8
Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite = 5.0> ppm
Nitrate = 20 ppm

Can someone give me some suggestions.

1. How can my nitrate/nitrite levels come up so quick in such a short period of time: a system that has been cycling less than a week?

2. Could this be caused by components in the live rock that I've purchased?

3. Would the high nitrate levels be possible cause for my previous deaths?

4. Do I need to do a water change to get the nitrate levels lower or shall I just be patient?

5. How often should I be testing my water from now on?

Thanks please give me the necessary advice.
 
the nitrates and high ammonia are all part of cycling and if you added fish and they died the ammonia was probally why or like in your other thread maybe by some thing like a mantis. usually a fishless cycle is best. if there was die off on the rock then that would be where the spike came form but like i said its all part of the cycle. you should do a water change maybe in a week or even longer and then see if it stays down and once it stays with zero ammonia and low nitrates you can add your clean up crew and maybe your first fish. there are some good threads on here about cycling.id test the water every few days durring cycling and maybe every week after that untell u get the feel for your tanks conditions.
also the ph is low it should be 8.0-8.4.
good luck
check this link
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91273
 
I agree! I've just been to your site and watched the video clip of your 55. That seahorse is beautiful! I haven't even finished cycling my first tank yet and I want to go bigger and better already!:girl:
 
germanmann hey hows that fluval working for you? i have one in my tank but alot of people seem against using cannisters.
 
yea alot of people dont like canisters....i dont know why though. they work great and my tank couldnt have half the things i have in it if i didnt have the filter. it just takes regular matenence and i guess something special thats just 2nd nature to me. i say that cause i do noting special and it works excellent for me but others try everything and it doesnt work out. just depends on the person but i have many years under my belt with fish and ima bio major and i have a very tiny case of OCD so maybe thats why it works out ...im very precise. it might have to do with the media also...isnt a nitrate sponge for me and works much better than any sump ive ever used or set up.
 
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