New tank cycling

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Nht

New Member
I set up my 29 Gallon OCeanic nano tank about 4 weeks ago using all the live rock and water from my friend's already established tank. I used Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit to test my water. Ammonia and Nitrite are all 0ppm...However, my nitrates are ski high at 150ppm! I was surprised when I saw the test results so I tested 5 times more. It was right.

Are nitrates in a cycling tank usually that high? Ive heard conflicting advise on what to do with my tank at this point in my tanks cycling.

Some have told me to leave the tank alone and the nitrates will go down on its on and that would indicate that it is done cycling.

Others have argued that I should go ahead and do frequent water changes to bring the nitrates down and then Im ready to go.

What do you guys think? Change the water to bring nitrates down or leave it alone
 
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drty811

New Member
i personally would leave it alone, which is JMO. you might of sturred something up when switching everything over to the 29. i would wait a week or so and if the nitrates are still high do a water change. HTH
 
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cbrownfish

New Member
Wow, that is high. Nitrates are the end of the cycle.........Ammonia=>Bacteria=> Nitrite=>Bacteria=>Nitrate. The good news is that it sounds like you have completed the cycle but the nitrates are extremely high. I would say that you follow the water change advice. In a new tank, there is typically not that much that will consume an inordinate amount nitrates.
 
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Nht

New Member
Guys. Its been a week already and my nitrates have not budged. I just did a 7% water change yesterday and the nitrates is stil the same at 100ppm with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test and app. 70ppm with the Instant Ocean test. What is going on? Why are my nitrates still ski high?

If a tank is cycling, should nitrates go down to 0 ppm on its own or do I have to do water changes? Should I use chemical filtration like DeNitrate? Please help Im getting anxious to add my first livestock. Its been a month and i thought that using my friends water and liverock would speed my cycle up.
 
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