Hi Samantha, I am relatively new also, but my lfs recommended something called Bio-Spira. It almost immediately (within 15 minutes) cycled my tank down to 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and very low (i forget the actual reading) nitrate. I was amazed at how well this stuff worked. Does any one else have any experience with it? I have a 125 with 3 shrimp, copperbanded butterfly, yellow tang, flame angel, 2 sebae clowns, maroon clown, skunk clown, lunare wrasse, cleaner wrasse, grouper, firefish goby, lawnmower blenny and 5 damsels (2 of which I'm taking out soon cause they're to darn mean), choclate chip star, serpant star, 2 anenomes, fighting conch and numerous hermit crabs and snails. Good Luck!