cycling question

i realize this might have been asked already but my nano never cycled b/c i bought all live rock from lps, so i didn't really have any die off. i am starting up my 55g wtih 20g sump. my water parameters are ammonia-0 nitrite-0 nitrate-80 ph 8.3 ca 480. i bought 45lbs of premium fiji lr online so i had a large die about a month ago which caused huge spikes but everything has settled down. there was a lot of stuff stuck to the rocks. i cleaned off most of it but there still is alot left. my question is can i do a 15g water change and then add a cuc. i was thinking that maybe they can start eating some of that stuff off of the rocks. the tank has been running for a month now. i also have some chaeto in there as well. so can i add cuc if i get my nitrate down low with a water change. also when should i get a skimmer. what do yall think aqua c urchin skimmers (space is a premium)

 

Well, it sounds like your cycle is well underway, with your ammonia and nitrite at zero and your nitrates sky high at 80. Keep in mind, though, that cycling is a dynamic process rather than something that happens once and is then finished. What I mean is that with each fish you add to the tank, there will be a small cycle. This is why we add fish one at a time, slowly over many weeks.

Be that as it may, what I'd recommend you now do is a very large water change. 15% isn't going to cut it - you want to get those nitrates WAY down. I'd probably do a series of 2 or 3 50% water changes over the next few days.

Once that is done, I would add a CUC as you suggested, and I would get some chaeto for your fuge (if you choose to use a fuge in your sump, which I HIGHLY recommend). I would also turn on your protein skimmer now (hopefully you have one - if not, get one). This will help get your tank well and truly underway.

 

thanks
any ideas on the skimmer i mentioned

 

That should be quite effective for your tank.

 

Good luck with your tank.