High Nitrates at start of cycle question

[aviator300]

Ok, i've cycled several tanks so i understand the process but i havent run into this before. I'm using a 1lb piece of live rock to seed a cycle with 4 other lbs dry rock. I'm doing nothing different this time from the others except using the LR to start the cycle instead of liquid ammonia.

I'm using RSCP salt and distilled water. I started 2 days ago and did a baseline test for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. All were Zero. I did another test today and got the following results which i double checked with another test kit.

 

Ammonia trace

Nitrites 0

Nitrates 80.0

 

There did not appear to be obvious die off on the LR but I can't think of anything else that might be causing the Nitrate spike only 2 days into the cycle. This is in a 5 gal tank with an AC30 filter and a Koralia Nano 240.

[Polarcollision]

My current tank spiked over 25 for two weeks, even with multiple 60-80% water changes. It eventually ended up back to low numbers. I wouldn't worry for a while.

[farkwar]

If youre starting the cycle, what makes you care if nitrate's 8, 80, or 180?

 

Im just wondering why you care, and why are you testing parameters right now.

 

Just curious, I think.