Nitrates high - Getting concered

B

butchseaman

[I have had my tank cycling for almost four weeks. The Ammonia, Nitrties have been at 0.0 for about a week, and pH is at 8.2.-8.4 . The nitrates are staying at 20. Should I be getting concered or start some other action.

I am picking green hair algae and I have about ten crabs and a Lawnmower blenny woking on the algae ... but I am ready for the Nitrates to drop.]



Edited By butchseaman on 1109908057
 
[No Rick I have not.... I am in the cycling stage and was told that this will prolong the cycling process. So for that reason I have not done a water change.

Was palnning on doing about a 25% change once the cycling process was complete... but now I am wonder if I should not do the water change now even though it would prolong the cycling process....

:sniffle:]
 
[If your ammonia and nitrites are at zero and it has been four weeks since you started cycling, I would do the water change. It certainly will not hurt anyhting at this point.]
 
[i agree with Rick.
Did you start your tank with any cured rock?
if so your tank may be cycled, and time to slowly start adding things after you do a WC.]
 
[You need to change your water out.

I tend to see some confusion about this with the word cycle.

You are in your nitrogen cycle, which lasts a month. You are cycling your tank, which means there is a cycle of water changes, at the end of which ultimately all the water is new. As to say you cycled out all the old water. OR the water changes where cyclic.

Also, in regards to your bacterial bio-load, and changing water. Don't worry about it too much as you are only affecting free-floating organisms suspended in the water. Most of the bacteria form colonies in your substrate, rocks, and surfaces.

You need to change your water.]
 
["cycle" doesn't refer to changing out your water.... it is referring to getting your tank into a stable "nitrogen" cycle (ammonia --> nitrite--> nitrate). Changing your water out during the "cycle" normally lengthens the amount of time it takes for your tank to reach stasis. Your "cycle" is complete when you see 0 Ammonia and 0 Nitrite. The best export for nitrates in a newly cycled tank is water changes (this sounds like were you are at). As your tank matures and with proper husbandry you can get your tank to 0 nitrates as well.

Doing a WC now will help lower you 'trates without causing any "cycle" problems as Rick pointed out. Listen to him, he knows what he is talking about.]
 
[OK... thanks guys for the info. I will do a water change tomorrow. Made up 15 gallons of salt water tonight waiting in the kitchen to use. I am beginning to understand..... Thanks again will let you all know how it goes....

Thanks]
 
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