Cycling Question

[rykitten]

I've been fishless cycling my 80 gallon brackish for about a month and a half. I test everyday and everything was going good.

About 2 weeks ago the NitrIte fell to 0.25ppm. I was very happy and looking forward to it reaching 0ppm. That was 2 weeks ago.

Everyday since it's tested 0.25pmm. Ammonia is 0 although I'm still adding half the original amount everyday.

Obviously the ammonia is being consumed, but only small amounts of the nitrite are. Is this normal? Any advice?

 

[rykitten]

cyling experts? Anybody home?

 

[modernhamlet]

If you're adding ammonia daily and the nitrites aren't rising then obviously there are enough bacteria to at least maintain levels. Why they're not taking that finally tiny step is a bit odd, I agree. Usually when nitrites finally go down, they go down quickly and completely over just a few days.

To be honest, my initial guess is a bad test kit. or at least one that registers nitrites slightly off. I'd test the tapwater for nitrites just to make sure the test kit will register 0ppm properly, then take a water sample to the LFS and ask them to test for nitrites.

 

[nomaddan]

I had the same problem with my ammonia. After testing my tap water with same test kit my readings were the same. It was about .25 off as well.

 

[thapsus]

I think too that your test shows wrong grades. Is your nitrate behaving like expected?

thapsus

 

[blue_ram]

If you added salt from the start, it's probably a bad test kit as some has mentioned. Test kits aren't all the same. That's why I use Lamotte and Nutrafin. Here's a link to review of nitrite test kits. This is a very good site with tons of good information.

 

[nomaddan]

Here's a link to review of nitrite test kits. This is a very good site with tons of good information.

Thanks for the link

 

[rykitten]

I bought a new test and the results are quite confusing . . .

Nitrite tests off the charts, over 10ppm. I'm really glad I haven't added fish yet. Nitrates are off the chart as well, over 200ppm.

I'm so confused!

 

[JustinSane]

How much ammonia have you exactly been adding? You did take in account that ammonia comes in different concentrations? What's your source of bacteria? (ie. did you use substrate from an old tank, soil from the garden?)

My guess is that you've been overdosing the ammonia. A lot.

 

[rykitten]

I used a sponge filter from an established tank to seed as well as a bit of gravel. In the beginning I was adding enough ammonia to reach 2ppm. I had a nitrite spike and cut the ammonia in half. Then I chatted with a few people here and was told I should add more ammonia (enough to reach 5ppm) so I would be able to completely stock the tank. So basically, I started over with the hopes that it would be quick since I already had some Nitrites. At that time I also added the salt. This was on Oct. 19th, so over a month ago.

I added enough ammonia to reach 5ppm for about a week and a half, then cut the amount in half. I figured that would be enough time for the Nitrites to catch up.

What do you think I should do?

 

[sylvia]

Do you know how much of the ammonia you needed to take it up to 5 ppm?
If you do, stop adding ammonia until you see a nitrite spike. Then gradualy start adding ammonia and increase daily until you are adding the amount that was previously 5 ppm. Your ammonia should remain at 0 and your nitrites should soon manage to be 0 as well. Don't stop adding ammonia until just before you add fish (make sure it's (ammonia AND nitrites) always at 0 though). Do a huge water change at thise point (70%) to lower nitrates. Add some more ammonia to make sure it has cycled (the ammonia should be gone next day). Then do another large water change and test. Your ammonia/nitrites should be 0 if it has cycled. The nitates should be lower as you did the two consecutive large water changes. Now you can add all the fish.

 

[rykitten]

Justin,

I started out adding 100 drops per day. That only brought me to 2ppm. I had to add 500 drops to bring it to 5ppm. I added 500 drops for about a week and a half, then cut down to about 200 drops per day.

Sylvia,

Do you know how much of the ammonia you needed to take it up to 5 ppm?

Yes, I know the measurement.

If you do, stop adding ammonia until you see a nitrite spike.

I am not sure I understand this. My nitrites are currently off the test chart, above 10ppm.

I will stop adding ammonia for a few days and see if that helps at all. Any more suggestions are welcome.

 

[sylvia]

I meant to leave it to cycle with whatever amount of ammonia is already in the tank and then start adding more ammonia till you reach the point where you are adding that 5 ppm amount and you see no spikes other than nitrAte (obviously) and then do the water change and add fish.

 

[rykitten]

Ahh, I think I understand now )

So let it do it's thing and keep testing until ammonia and nitrite reach 0. Then add ammonia until it reaches 5ppm. The ammonia should be consumed and the nitrite should remain at 0. Correct?

 

[sylvia]

yep