Help with Test Results

[kalamity]

Can anyone analyze this for me?
SG - 1.022
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 1.0 - 2.0 ppm
Nitrite - .5 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm
gH - over 65 dGH (way over 400 ppm)
kH - 10 - 12 dKH (200 ppm)
50 gallon
Base Rock - Aragonite, dead coral
It's cycling since Saturday.
These are all the tests I have. What others do I need. I'm sure I need to test the phosphate as I used tap water to fill it. I will also need to remove the phosphate, I assume. All top offs and water changes will be done with RO.
What's going on with the water? What do I need to do?

 

[seannmelly]

the water is like this cause it is still cycling give it another week. and i would get the sg up to 1.025

 

[drew2005]

Looks like your tank is cycling. NO need to really do anything. Just wait it out. Could take 4-6 weeks. I would test every other day so you can see when your levels start to come down as you near the end of the cycle. Those test are fine for now. All you need to do is be patient and let nature take its course. Good luck and welcome to the boards.

 

[sinner's girl]

raise sg (mix top off water to 1.025ish), and do future water changes at 1.025ish.
Don't do a water change till your tank cycles. I test weekly when cycling, once am and nitrites are zero, do a water change to lower nitrates, wait a few days and test again, do another water change if you need to. You can add a fish/inverts once nitrates are under 20 (zero)

 

[kalamity]

I figured everything was fine for a cycling aquarium. I've done freshwater before and it all matches up, but I wanted to make sure. I'll raise the SG, but what about the GH. That's really high. Is it supposed to be that high? My cichlid tank was around 34 dGH.

 

[ccg24]

Just Cycling....... thats what it does put some damsels in there if you want acclimate them in slow.... if thats what your going for anyway.... but they will help too

 

[ccg24]

and they'll give you something to look at. anyway... I know most people are impatient to get something in there, but damsels and clowns can survive the cycle... so... if you want

 

[sinner's girl]

NO FISH, in a cycling tank! Not yelling, just getting your attention. Wait, there is NO reason not to wait. The fish may die during the cycle, why take the chance?
Is GH general hardness? then yes, it's going to be super high because it's salt...(or so I was told)
but damsels and clowns can survive the cycle
not always, and clowns are less likely than damsels. many have died from a cycle and even if they live why put then through that?

 

[ccg24]

I knew someone would disagree...... I did it when I first started.... I was told I could and I Put 3 striped Clowns in 3 days in to my cycling and they seemed very good the first day they were stressed and lied on the CC at night... but there activity was fine they ate they did really well but my spike wasn't all that high either... my ammo was like 5ppm and Nitrite got as high as 2 and Nitate was somewhere in the safe zone. but the Nitite didn't spike till I put the fish in and thats as High as it got and I checked it once sometimes 2 times a day..... so I didn't do right.... sorry I wouldn't actually do it again... though why do some say it's better then to start the cycling??? so I know, thanks...

 

[sinner's girl]

i'm sure our first tank was cycled with damsels, but that I don't know why some say it's okay. mostly lfs say it's okay so you'll buy fish, then more fish when they die...but you didn't have a high spike, some tanks do...

 

[ccg24]

Ok, Thanks for that.... but to gladly say... my fish are all still alive and doin fine...

 

[kalamity]

Great. So, is the alkalinity (KH) ok at 200 ppm?
Thanks for your replies, all. It must get boring answering the same questions over and over again from newbies like me. But, that's what makes you such great hobbyists...you are willing to educate others.