Ammonia Zero But Nitrite Still High

[Evad]

Nitrite takes longer to process, right? That would explain why my ammonia has been zero for three days but Nitrites are still really high, correct?

Nitrates are also through the roof so I know the cycle is working but didn't remember the last time I did this that it took so much longer for the Nitrites to cycle through.

 

[Colin_T]

it usually takes a couple of weeks for the bacteria to build up in large enough numbers to break down the nitrites into nitrates.

you have a nitrate reading because most nitrate test kits also read nitrite.

 

[Evad]

Thanks. I know Nitrates are going up because algae is going crazy lol. Also my nitrate reading spiked after my nitrite readings peaked so it may not be accurate but it is reading something.

Sounds like in anothe week I should be free and clear!

 

[waterdrop]

Your not kidding Nitrites can take longer - mine took 40 more days after ammonia was dropping to zero but finally Nitrites dropped to zero too and continued every day after that.

 

[backtotropical]

Nitrite takes longer to process, right? That would explain why my ammonia has been zero for three days but Nitrites are still really high, correct?

Nitrates are also through the roof so I know the cycle is working but didn't remember the last time I did this that it took so much longer for the Nitrites to cycle through.

Hi Evad,

Nitrite oxidising bacteria does generally take longer to colonise. However, are you fishless cycling? If so, you shouldn't let ammonia stay at 0 for 3 days. You need to add more. With no ammonia, your ammonia processing bacteria will die off. Top back up to around 4ppm for now, and repeat each time ammonia gets down to 0.

Cheers

BTT

 

[waterdrop]

Nitrite takes longer to process, right? That would explain why my ammonia has been zero for three days but Nitrites are still really high, correct?

Nitrates are also through the roof so I know the cycle is working but didn't remember the last time I did this that it took so much longer for the Nitrites to cycle through.

Hi Evad,

Nitrite oxidising bacteria does generally take longer to colonise. However, are you fishless cycling? If so, you shouldn't let ammonia stay at 0 for 3 days. You need to add more. With no ammonia, your ammonia processing bacteria will die off. Top back up to around 4ppm for now, and repeat each time ammonia gets down to 0.

Cheers

BTT

O, very good catch BTT! I had missed that detail. Yes, absolutely agree, gotta feed those little "A-bacs" at least a maintenance dose of ammonia if the clock ticks around to 24 hours with them getting nothing! Each 24 hours that ammonia sits at zero you could be losing 1 to 5% of your ammonia-oxidizing population.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[backtotropical]

Nitrite takes longer to process, right? That would explain why my ammonia has been zero for three days but Nitrites are still really high, correct?

Nitrates are also through the roof so I know the cycle is working but didn't remember the last time I did this that it took so much longer for the Nitrites to cycle through.

Hi Evad,

Nitrite oxidising bacteria does generally take longer to colonise. However, are you fishless cycling? If so, you shouldn't let ammonia stay at 0 for 3 days. You need to add more. With no ammonia, your ammonia processing bacteria will die off. Top back up to around 4ppm for now, and repeat each time ammonia gets down to 0.

Cheers

BTT

O, very good catch BTT! I had missed that detail. Yes, absolutely agree, gotta feed those little "A-bacs" at least a maintenance dose of ammonia if the clock ticks around to 24 hours with them getting nothing! Each 24 hours that ammonia sits at zero you could be losing 1 to 5% of your ammonia-oxidizing population.

~~waterdrop~~

Eagle-Eye BTT!

 

[Evad]

I am still adding ammonia, albeit at a greatly reduced level. I will be adding fish VERY slowly to this tank, so I just need it cycled at the most minimum level. This 180gal tank will only probably see 5-7 tetras in the first week and 4-5 new fish per month after that

In theory, I probably could have used fish to cycle if I was going to do it that gradually - but I always do fishless cycling so I decided to repeat

 

[waterdrop]

180 gallons? Good grief! Those tetras might have to swim all day to find that ammonia molecule - no, great that you are fishless cycling!

 

[Evad]

Yes I think people (myself included) tend to get a tank all set up and then go fill it up with fish fairly quickly - and then months later you find that perfect fish and reget not having room for it. So this time I intend to only add the fish I want and take it real slow. I figure it will take 2+ years to finally reach the limit of this tank. Of course my 5-year old daughter is pushing for a much faster timeline

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, same difference of opinion about timeline in our house!

Picturing what a 180 must be like makes me think about how one of the wonderful things of the hobby is how a planted tank fairly empty of fish can be so beautiful - making you go hunt for the fish, which is fun -- and then on the other hand sometimes you see tanks that are obviously overcrowded, sometimes with quite big fish and that's beautiful to look at too (despite knowing its not right, if its really overcrowded..)

I will say that it feels quite good knowing your filter is completely cycled - a definate psychological boost!

~~waterdrop~~