Day 40 help needed

[Frostys_Breck]

I have a 49 gallon AIO tank.
Day 5 I added live nitrifying bacteria
I have close to 35lbs of live rock and I am currently heating the tank at 80.

I’m on day 40 and my ammonia has dropped but I can’t get my nitrate or nitrites down. I’ve only been topping my tank. I’m wondering if I should do a big water change.

Any help would be great.

 

[E.R.A.]

Do you have a refug or cheato? The bacteria isnt always alive in those bottles. I have always used a piece of live rock or water from an established tank. How was the live rock prepared?

 

[jda]

I would not sweat that nitrite test kit. Nitrite is not toxic at these levels to most marine fish and not likely the ones that you will start out with. Those test kits and not super accurate anyway.

Having low ammonia and some nitrate is a good sign that you can slowly and smartly move forward with some fish.

If the live rock was truly alive and not just wet from a store or dry/dead, then you are certainly fine. It is best to post the exact kind of rock (live, wet, dry, etc) since your tank is going to have many periods of change soon and the advice and help should be tailored differently depending on the type.

 

[Frostys_Breck]

Do you have a refug or cheato? The bacteria isnt always alive in those bottles. I have always used a piece of live rock or water from an established tank. How was the live rock prepared?

I believe it was man made son not sure.