Cycling Question

[jason26]

Just got a couple of questions on my fishless cycle, my cycle is going well im on day 11.

Ammonia is processing in approx 12 hours, everytime it goes down to 0.5 / 1.0ppm i add more ammonia to take it back up to 4ppm.
Nitrite is now down to 0.5ppm.

Should i be letting my ammonia drop to 0ppm before i add anymore and will this remove the last 0.5ppm of nitrite i have, im not sure if i am cycled yet.

 

[doresy]

Hi, have your nitrite levels gone sky high yet? (rich purple colour,if using API kit)

 

[jason26]

Hi, have your nitrite levels gone sky high yet? (rich purple colour,if using API kit)

Yes i have already had my nitrite spike, it was a dark purple colour.

I have left the test tube to one side since i last tested about 45 minutes ago its now a light blue colour.

 

[mark.w.jones]

The colour change to light blue means nothing. The test colour only applies after the time stated. I would say that you are just over half way through your cycle. I would expect 4ppm ammonia to lead to 0ppm ammonia and 0ppm nitrite within 24 hours. When you reach this point you are then cycled.

 

[rdd1952]

What is your nitrate reading? It's unusual for the nitrite to drop slowly. It's generally from off the chart high to 0 overnight. If your nitrates are high though, you are probably cycled.

 

[jason26]

My nitrate reading was 10ppm, i did use some media from my other tank to speed the cycle up too.

 

[jason26]

This is my nitrite reading after 8 hours of adding 4ppm of ammonia

 

[jason26]

Nitrite reading still the same, any ideas anyone, Have added more plants today too hoping this will help.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Just keep going. My tank took 7 days before it would reduce 4ppm ammonia to less than 0.5ppm but 2 further weeks before my nitrite was dropping to 0ppm. Just be patient that's all.

 

[jason26]

Thanks, will keep going just getting a bit impatient now, lol.

It will all be worth it in the end.