water changes

[elan]

I started my tank with good ole florida tapwater. i asked around a few places and they basically said with a new tank, it really doesnt matter... now.. i am waiting for my tank to cycle... amonia has droped to very low levels (between 0 and .25) and my nitrites are at sky rocket levels (at leat 3-5 ppm).. the only thing i am bewildered about, is my nitrate level.. i thought that would start to rise as my nitrite came down, but i did a test and my nitrate is sky high too (40ppm)... does anyone have an idea?

 

[plum70rt]

nitrates ,nitrites, peak then decline, dependes where are you at? also Tap water may have high phosphates , have you tested for phosphates?

 

[col]

Nitrates only decline if you do water changes or something is using them up.

 

[elan]

any idea why my nitrates are so high already? my nitrites havent come down yet