Hey again guys! So I think my cycle is over (or at least ending)! I say this because I have noticed a sudden bloom of what I thought was live bacteria on my rock (which is white) which left it a rust color, but come to find out it is a diatom bloom. So is this a good sign of my tank getting more mature and ending its cycle? If so what is the next stage to look out for?

As a side note my Ammonia was up at 8.0 for more then a week and when I noticed this bloom 2 days ago I did my water change today and tested the water...

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 1.0 ppm
Nitrate: 80 ppm
PH: 8.0
Temp: 82 * (added a lid to the tank and I guess my pump is heating the water :( I took the lid off tonight and will see if my temp has dropped to my original setting of 76-77*)

Oh I did get a calcium test kit today and tested for that...as I thought, I had high calcium levels. Is this a bad thing?

Calcium: 520 ppm (max on the scale)

This may be due to the rock I have in the tank which is the Reef Saver rock which I believe is formed out of calcium carbonate.

Thanks for all your help

Yup, cycle moving right along. But not done. You still have Nitrites going. When your Nitrates are below 40, and you have no other readings, your good to add a fish. You have your clean up crew in there already? Crabs, snails? Yea, your CA is a bit high there. What kind of water are you using? And what is the CA reading for that water?

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