I think it is cycled. I had a "brown out" about two weeks ago and my ammonia and nitrates went through the roof. Unfortunately, I did not know about you guys on this fab site and listened to the fish guy and bought "just some cheap chromis" to start the cycle. I did not know you could start it with Deli shrimp! Then (it had been about a week) my brown algae all but disappeared, the ammonia dropped to zero and the nitrates rose to about 25. The pH was at 8.2 for about a week (I was checking it at the fish store every two days as it is free to do it there and I like to snoop and ask questions). Then pH dropped to 7.8 and I did a 25% water change. Nitrates were at 50 when I went to the store next (about 4 days). One of the fish guys said I was over feeding so I should stop the food for a couple of days. He also recommended I buy a couple of shrimp to help clean up the water and sand and such. He said that overfeeding was probably the main reason I had high nitrates but normal ammonia. The fish were not eating it all and the food was rotting. So I stopped food for two days, bought 2 skunk stripes and the ammonia stayed down, the nitrates lowered to 25.
meanwhile, I had discovered this site and started "listening" to you guys. I am very glad I did and am sorry
(to my poor fish) that I did not find you sooner.
Thursday was when I stopped the food, and my hubby (the softy- feed-the-poor-darlings- they-are-hungry guy:hammerhea ) discovered one of the Chromis stuck to the power circ pump dead as a doornail:tears: . I went to the chatroom (lounge) and 'talked" with someone who recommended I stop relying on the fish store guys to check my water so I bought my own Ammonia and nitrite test kit. I also found out that the fish guys were full of s&^t:rollingey about the nitrates being what you worry about intstead of the nitrites
so I bought that kit too. WHen I tested yesterday afternoon, the ammonia was 0 and the nitrites were 0 too.
As my "chat buddy" as well as you have been pointing out, I really should slow WAY down and be much more patient.
AFter all, I DO plan on this tank lasting a very long time and so should take a very long time to get it up, running and happy.
Patience has never been a very strong quality in my personality butI am certainly not wanting to make these poor critters suffer for my impatience. I have the rest of my life right? So I promise I will slow down.:bluenod: I thank you very much for your help and will keep checking in and asking more questions.