whats this all about?

[goober]

i dont know were to ask this question so i will ask it here. When i do my nitrate test there seems to be particales suspended in the water how come? And my other question is how long will it take for nitrates and nitites to drop during the cycle? they have been high for 6 weeks now. my setup is a 46 gallon bow fish tank with a skitter 250(i know) a heater (77 degrees) two power heads 1 damsal, 1 yellow clown, 1 red clown, and 1 orange clown. sorry i dont know the names. and i have snails

 

[beth]

What type of test kit are you using? If you are using a dry test kit, then the particles are from the test tab itself.
Cycle is a progressive process: ammonia to nitrites to nitrates. If you are just setting up a tank and cycling, you really shouldn't have nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites will drop, and should drop to zero, once your tank matures with nitrifying bacteria. Nitrate levels begin once your tank is cycled and how you deal with them depends upon what type of setup you have and filtration modes you are using. Basically, nitrates are handled by you doing regular water changes.

 

[goofieones]

Because of your filter, it may take longer for the nitrites to come down, but I don't think you should have sky high nitrates right now.