Cycle Questions - Beginner here!

Hey guys I would really appreciate any help and insight you guys can provide as I am new to the saltwater scene. I have always had freshwater tanks until this point.

I have asked a few questions at my LFS however I am just not sure how knowledgeable they are after reading a lot of posts on here. For one, they told me a blue Hippo would be fine for my tank but from what I have read, it clearly is not...

I have a 55 Gal Saltwater tank. approx 65 LBS of live rock. The tank has been up and running for a week now and I am trying to figure out what stage of the cycle process I am in. I have some brown algae on some of the live rock as well as on the sand. How much longer do you think this process will go? What should my next step be?

From the test kit:
PH: 8.1
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: around 40

I know my nitrate is high. What is the best way to lower this?

I do have a couple snails/hermits in there currently based off the recommendation from the LFS. I was also told to not do any water changes for at least 2 months...

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

Have you put anything into it to start the cycle? raw uncooked shrimp or anything?

Snails and hermits generally go in after your cycle to clean up IMO.

 

No I have not. From what I understood the live rock and sand would start that process on its own? I could certainly be wrong on this.

 

Well from what I know is little but the rock and sand does start the cycle but may be slow.

 

Nice ninja edit! Live rock & sand will definitely cycle a tank. Uncured live rock may be more effective as you get more die-off. Feed the tank every couple days or so to help the cause along (not much, as much as you would if there was a couple fish in there). You are well on your way, but be patient. You still have 5 or so weeks to go before you really should add any fish (IMO). No need to do a water change yet either. Those nitrates should go down on there own.

 

Were you reading ammonia and/or nitrite at any point? Did you use RO/DI water?

If you answers are yes, you're cycle is complete. It sounds like you are now having a diatom bloom (usually happens at the end of a cycle and will die off once silicates are consumed).

 

Not without a refugium or manual removal they won't; not quickly anyways.

 

I was reading a small amount of ammonia but have never read any nitrite. The water i got was already ready to go from the LFS. If the cycle is already done, cool, but that seems awfully fast.

If I am still 5 weeks away... well that stinks lol. I was hoping maybe 2 weeks or so longer.

 

Should I attempted to removed the nitrates now? Or wait? What would be the best thing to use to remove nitrates whenever that time may come?

 

When did you start your cycle?