High Nitrates Please Help?

Well I have had my tank set up about 1 month and now my nitrates are way to high like 80 ppm. I have done a 50% water change after it Cycled 1.5 weeks ago and it still never went down. I also might of messed up by adding my first 2 fish which are Misbar Clowns. Here is a list of my setup:

65 Gallon 36x18x25
Prizm Delux Skimmer
Emperor 400(with Biowheels just removed)
heater
2 Hydor PH #1 & #2
1 off brand 170gph PH
90 lbs of live Fiji Rock
2" Crushed Coral
1x96 Current PC(am going to upgrade to 2x96)
2 Misbar clowns

I have not changed the filters in the pump but looked at them and they didn't look to bad. Should I just remove them and leave the filtering for my Rock and skimmer?

 

You should return the fish. If you never finished yourcycle, the fish will not help. It is best to wait until your nitrate levels are at zero. The fish/feeding the fish will only raise your nitrates.

 

So another words the fish are just going to prolong my cycle.

 

Yes, in my experience a well cycled tank takes about 6-8 weeks give or take. May seem long but in the end it is worth the wait, less problems and less fish loss. High nitrates can be toxic to fish. When your nitrates are 0, then you can add fish. Your tank will go through a small cycle each time you add something new.

 

Well I feel real stupid now. I also got my clean up crew coming and I know I will be in trouble there. My local fish store is 1.5 hrs away so I dont know if they will take them back after taking them this far. What is the chances that every thing will be fine but not adding anything else for a long time?

 

Can I do more water changes to get these fish and snail through this stage. also I have Cheato coming so I do know that will help with Nitrates.

 

Nitrates are not going to cycle out of your tank unless you have something that is treating that. Your ammonia breaks down to nitrites and they in turn to nitrates. Water changes get rid of them and specialized filters.

With your nitrates being so high I'd go with the water changes and leave things as they are. You might want to consider a coil denitrator, Tangster sells them or you can make your own. I'm assuming that your Ammonia and nitrites are at 0.

 

IMO you are taking a big risk on the live stock. If you could get your LFS to house them for you that's what I would do. If you keep them you could just flip a coin on anything making it through the cycle. Snails are really sensitive too if that is part of your clean up crew.

 

Here's a thrad from earlier this week

http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/high-nitrate-levels-please-help-51277.html

 

Ok after viewing the post above should I discard the filters in my Emperor 400?