Tank Cycling Question

[brad knox]

I just set up a 55 gallon last Monday and had the gravity at 1.023 on Wednesday when I added 50 lbs of cured fiji live rock. I have the temperature at 78 degrees. I have been measuring the PH, Nitrite, Nitrate, and ammonia. I have been testing every two days and here are the latest results. I need to know if this is good and if not what I can do to make it right. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Im setting this up as a reef. I also have 80 lbs of argonite fine sand as the substrate and have been adding some biological liguid to help speed up the process. Im currently using and via aqua for the protein skimmer but am taking it back as soon as my aqua c remora gets here Friday.
PH 7.8- hasnt moved any since Ive set it up
Ammonia .25 - was alot higher than this, going down
Nitrite 2 - was alot higher than this, going down
Nitrate 80 - was way lower, rising very rapidly

 

[dacia]

It sounds as though the cycle is progressing nicely! I would encourage you to test the water on a daily basis until the water parameters are at 0.

 

[brad knox]

Thanks for the info, will the PH come up eventually or should I get the stuff that makes the PH correct?

 

[wrassecal]

Ammonia and nitrite must reach 0. PH will read lower in morning and higher in evening. It should stabilize somewhat once cycle is finished or you can take an average of morning and just before lights out. If you get your nitrates to 0 you are doing better than I ever have. I've never had mine below 20.

 

[dacia]

My pH stayed around 8.0 until after the cycle was complete. Then it naturally went to 8.2 and has been there ever since.