Some new pics of the tank (week 4 of cycling)

Looks like it'll be an attractive tank. Being that you're talking about reducing your nitrates, and you started with tap water... I'd just do a series of large water changes to flush out the non-RODI and nitrates. You could do a super large change like 90% if you wanted because nothing in the tank will be shocked by that big of a chance (unlike later)

 

So I ghost fed about 15 pellets last night around 7 and checked ammonia / nitrite are at 0 as of 6 this morning... I will test again tonight around 8ish...also will add a few lbs of LR on sat.. If my ammonia / nitrites remain 0 am I safe to add fish or do you still recommend waiting longer?

 

Nice setup! I would think it's ok to add some fish if you've been ghost feeding an haven't had any ammonia/nitrate spikes. You might get an algae bloom though since you are just starting your lighting schedule. Then again, if your tank doesn't have any nitrates/phosphates you might not get any algae. Any experts able to confirm?

 

Tgood: I do have roughly 20 or so Nitrates... I will be doing a 30 gallon water change on Sat to help lower them.

 

Your testing won't be to accurate since its only based off of one feeding. You'll e feeding your fish daily. Chances are you don't have much bacteria to eat the waste so your elements will build & then you'll have an algae outbreak.

 

I missed that detail, yeah you will probably get algae then, in which case I would recommend starting with a cleanup crew vs. a fish. Get them in there and continue ghost feeding to see how stable the tank is. Like he said, if your bacteria colony isn't concentrated enough to support one ghost feed it definitely won't be able to handle daily feedings and the fish on top of it. I would wait a little longer IMO. Better safe than sorry.

 

Fair enough... Wait I shall... Should I continue and go ahead w/the 30 gallon water change?

 

Up to you, wouldn't hurt... but you could also leave some nitrate in there and allow it to naturally break down which will make your bacteria colony stronger. It will take more time but in the long run it will help.

 

Nitrate is the end product of the "cycling" bacteria (unless you consider denitrifying bacteria). If you have a deep sandbed or other means of getting rid of nitrate, it will be fine. Deep sandbeds come with their own risks. Having nitrate around will do *nothing* for the bacteria that process ammonia -> Nitrite -> Nitrate.

 

You don't need to add live rock to the tank. The best way to avoid hitchikers is to do 100% base rock. I personally would just let your cycle run and you will be fine without adding any live rock. If you want to kick the nitrogen cycle into high gear, you could use a product like bio-spira or something like that. It looks like you are well on your way.