hello all. New to saltwater and I have a question about my cycle. First I apologize if this is in the wrong section. If it is can a mod please move it to the correct section.
I started with dry mined rock in a Rubbermaid trash bin. Salinity was 1.025, ph 8.2 alk at 12dkh. Dosed it to 2ppm ammonia and let it sit with a heater and powerhead for 2 weeks while I got my 75g tank and 55gal sump setup and ready. I also dosed with microbactor 7. Moved the rocks and water into my tank 6 days ago, and used 80lbs of arag-alive bahamas oolite sand and dosed it back to 2ppm ammonia. 2 days later ammonia was down to .25ppm but nitrites and nitrates were off the charts. Did a 30% water change. Waited an hour and retested and they were both extremely high. I mixed more saltwater and did another 30% water change last night. Tested this morning and nitrates are still high, around 5ppm and nitrates are 20ppm. Should i do another water change or wait and see if nitrites go down? Ammonia is also gone. Should I add alittle more to keep the bacteria alive?
I started with dry mined rock in a Rubbermaid trash bin. Salinity was 1.025, ph 8.2 alk at 12dkh. Dosed it to 2ppm ammonia and let it sit with a heater and powerhead for 2 weeks while I got my 75g tank and 55gal sump setup and ready. I also dosed with microbactor 7. Moved the rocks and water into my tank 6 days ago, and used 80lbs of arag-alive bahamas oolite sand and dosed it back to 2ppm ammonia. 2 days later ammonia was down to .25ppm but nitrites and nitrates were off the charts. Did a 30% water change. Waited an hour and retested and they were both extremely high. I mixed more saltwater and did another 30% water change last night. Tested this morning and nitrates are still high, around 5ppm and nitrates are 20ppm. Should i do another water change or wait and see if nitrites go down? Ammonia is also gone. Should I add alittle more to keep the bacteria alive?