Cycling has stalled???

[Jo and Gra]

Doing a FISHLESS cycle......

been adding fish flake to create the ammonia.....

ammonia went up, and has now dropped to between 0 and .25ppm.....

nitrite went to 5ppm.........now dropped slightly to between 2 and 5ppm....

nitrate has rocketed to the highest level on the API test.....



so now what?


do i do a percentage water change?

or do i sit tight and wait?

 

[glolite]

Sit tight but keep adding some flake daily and when the nitrites are nil test again for nitrAtes. If higher the 40 do a 50% water change and test again. Ideally the nitrAtes should be between 20-40. Nitrates above 60 are to high for the plants to utilise. Below 20 and you can get an outbreak of cyanobacteria (rare though).
Once the nitrItes are nil, also test for ammonia after your water change. If ammonia nil then your tank has cycled!!

 

[Jo and Gra]

in 21gals......

how much longer?

is it a quick transistion from high nitrite to nothing?

 

[Jo and Gra]

?

 

[rdd1952]

When using pure ammonia, the nitrite usually takes about twice as long as the ammonia spike. I would assume it would be the same for using fish food but not sure. As glolite said, keep adding flakes to keep the bacteria already developed fed. It shouldn't be much longer. Don't do a water change until the nitrite drops to zero. A water change would only lower the amount of ammonia and nitrite in the water and actually slow the process. The high nitrates aren't a problem since you don't have fish. Once the nitrite gets to zero, do a 75 to 90 percent wc and you are ready for fish.

Edit: Yes, the nitrite spike will generally end almost overnight. It will be quick.

 

[william11373]

i have no idea what you guys are talking about

 

[tttnjfttt]

They are talking about a fishless cycle....a easy and painless way to build up the beneficial bacteria in your tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

 

[Sky042]

Usually nitrites will stay pegged at a high level. Once they start to finally fall it's typically only a few days before they zero out.

 

[Jo and Gra]

so once they start to drop...........they drop!!!

i think they have started to........

using the API master test kit..

difficult to pick between the highest nitrite level, and the second one.

 

[Jo and Gra]

nitrate has gone down a bit which is weird, as has the nitrIte......

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I feel your confusion. My fishless cycle went mental with both the ammonia and nitrites rocketting. The ammonia has dropped now although still present but the nitrite is still very high. Am picking up a nitrate test tomorrow so I can follow their progress too. It really is just a case of waiting for a 0 reading of ammonia and nitrite and the nitrate to be a good level then doing the big w/c and finally getting the fish. I'm far from the most patient person in the world and you sound closer to being ready then me.
Hugs,
P.

 

[glolite]

This is the most difficult bit. Once the nitrites have spiked it usually takes twice as long for them to zero out as when they appear. Be patient and keep adding the fish flake/ammonia. Suddenly the nitrites will be zero one morning. It's sooooo exciting!!!!

 

[Jo and Gra]

exciting??

its annoying and boring!!!!

 

[Jo and Gra]

gong to another test tonight

 

[glolite]

exciting??

its annoying and boring!!!!

Not when your nitrites are suddenly on zero, that's exciting.
I agree though, the waiting is annoying and boring.
Sounds like your nearly there though. What fish are you thinking of starting with?