Nitrate issues

[jlbiggs11]

So my tank is cycled and ammonia and nitrites are 0 but my nitrates insist on being around 40 ppm even after water changes. I tested my water I'm using and there is no nitrates. So my next culprit would be the filtration. My tank it's 29 gallons. I am using a hang on the back aqua tech 30 to 60 gallon filter. And have 25 lbs of live rock. And about a 3 inch bed of live sand. What are your guys suggestions. I dont have any inhabitant in it yet and really don't wanna spend another 100 bucks on a filter since I thought I had bought everything I needed already. But I guess I did get into a pretty expensive hobby :laughing:

 

[geoj]

How long has the tank been cycling?
Are you adding food?
Was the live rock cured well before the setup?

 

[jlbiggs11]

How long has the tank been cycling?
Are you adding food?
Was the live rock cured well before the setup?
Tank is cycled and been slowly adding rock and sand since the beginning of June.
haven't been adding any food
The rock wasn't cured. It was "cured" when I bought it online but by the time I got in the mail a week later I assumed everything died off.

 

[kiefers]

you say that the tank is relatively new correct. Have you by chance checked the trites? also... let it sit another few weeks and do nothing but wait. Sometimes tanks need that extra time to cook. What test kits are you currently using?

 

[jlbiggs11]

Yup tanks new. I was using test strips but then bought a aquarium pharmaceutical master liquid test kit. Ammonia and nitrites are at and have been at zero for a week.

 

[btldreef]

Your tank isn't completely done with the initial cycle, at least this would be my guess/thought since you were adding uncured live rock (yes you are correct that by the time it go to you it was no cured anymore).
I would let it sit a few weeks longer, continue with your water changes, etc. Your nitrites and ammonia have only been at zero for a week, give it a little more time. I'd say two weeks, if you still have nitrate readings after that, then something might not be right. Some tanks cycle in 2 weeks, some in 2 months, some even longer.

 

[geoj]

+1
Sounds like you added the LR over a few days. This only makes it take longer to zero. Other wise it sounds like you are right on track.

 

[jlbiggs11]

Thanks so much for all the help everyone!! So even thou my nitrites and ammonia are zero the cycle isnt techinically over until the nitrates drop too? Or you think that my tank is going to spike in ammonia, then nitrites to cycle all over again? This is my first salt water tank and used the same tank only omce for my freshwater tank so I definitally appreciate all of the help! :flamed: