ammonia, nitrite, nitrate,...OH MY!!

[nvmycj]

First of all,...SUPER STOKED that my LR arrived from Fiji! It arrived yesterday and I had a blast rock-scaping my 29BioCube!!
So,...here's situation that leads to my question. After a day of cycling, I decided to check my levels. pH was 7.8, ammonia was 0ppm, nitrite was 1.0ppm, and nitrate 40ppm.
Knowing what I know about the cycling process, I'm confused about this: How can I have nitrite & nitrate levels, but no ammonia levels??? Ammonia converts to nitrite, then nitrate, right?!?
Any clarification would be super cool!
Thanks!!
BTW,...pics to follow!

 

[flower]

LOL....glad you had fun. It is cycling really fast, the reason we love live rock, that does not mean your tank is ready for crtters. Everything is still very unstable right now.
As for the cycle, your tank will continue to cycle whenever a critter or food is added it will contribute to ammonia, this will raise nitrites and that turns to nitrate. The goal is to have enough good bacteria built up to eat up ammonia and nitrites, which is poison to sea life and have a low amount of nitrates. While good bacteria eats up ammonia and nitrites, nitrates are harder to get rid of...so water changes are the next step to get rid of that.
From die off, food or fish poop....Ammonia rises, good bacteria comes and break it down to nitrites, as ammonia drops nitrites rise, as nitrites are being eat up nitrates rise. So you are in the middle of nitrites being overcome and nitrates are rising.

 

[nvmycj]

Groovy. Should I do something to get an "ammonia spike?" I've have yet to have an ammonia level when I check my parameters. Just wondering....

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NVMYCJ http:///forum/thread/384486/ammonia-nitrite-nitrate-oh-my#post_3368705
Groovy. Should I do something to get an "ammonia spike?" I've have yet to have an ammonia level when I check my parameters. Just wondering....

Whenever you add food, or fish you are adding ammonia, the good bacteria is sufficient to turn it to nitrites then nitrates right away.
Just sit on your hands for a few weeks to let the tank balance out. After you wait then you are ready add one fish at a time or in some cases two clowns, then wait a week or two before adding anything else.