Nitrogen cycle

[Guppy4Life]

Hey guys! So I just recently bought a 10 gallon cube tank. I had a 20 gallon reef before. I ended up putting new sand a few dead rock and one large live rock that I took out of my 20 gallon. Takes up about 40% of my tank. I have 2 clownfish a few Anemones, and 2 small coral. It's been running for 1 week now. I tested my water today and noticed my numbers where a bit high. My ammonia was at 0.50 ppm. My nitrites where at 0. And my Nitrates where at 5.0 . My question is did my nitrogen cycle start all over again since I put new sand in and just 1 large live rock?

 

[Guppy4Life]

Also. I started the new 10 gallon tank with water from the old 20 gallon tank.

 

[mcgyvr]

Yes it sure looks that way...
That single live rock didnt contain enough bacteria to quickly process the ammonia...

Was this sand "live sand"? (Often is more dead/decay than live)..

How long of a cycle and how bad it will get from here depends on many variables..
Never a good idea to rush in this hobby...
Moving any livestock back to your 20g until ammonia/nitrites drop to zero would be a smart move

 

[Guppy4Life]

My new sand was just dry dead sand.

 

[mcgyvr]

Well...there is a chance your test results are incorrect...quite a few report false readings with api ammonia..