Help! Cycled tank. High nitrates.

[Smoke Reefer]

What's up everyone. Question for you maybe you can help me. I set up a tank a while ago but didn't ever think it cycled so u just let it alone. It had flow and a filter running the whole time, no heater. Well now I'm in a bind and need a tank and I just checked and I guess it did cycle but my nitrates are through the roof. Like 160 ppm. Nitrites 0. Ammonia 0. Can I use this tank? If I do a water change?
Thanks a bunch!

 

[pyithar]

i noticed the water level is low in the photo. did you forget to top off with fresh water? in that case check the salinity. do water changes then test ammonia/nitrtite/nitrate by using good test kits.

 

[Smoke Reefer]

Thanks a lot Pyithar, I will check that.

Also, I set this tank up the at the same time I did my main tank and I never say algae blooms and diatoms like I did in my main. Any reason why?

 

[thegrun]

Do a 100% water change and you should be good. How long has it been sitting?

 

[Smoke Reefer]

Thegrun, It's been sitting with no attention since august 29th I think. So a month and a week? Maybe a few days longer?

 

[thegrun]

You should be fine then. Add your livestock very slowly (1 fish, wait a week, then add another...) since the bacteria population is likely small from a lack of food.