Fishless Cycle Day 43 - Still No Drop In Nitrite :|

[KCB]

It is day 43 of my fishless cycle. NitrIte has been as high as 5ppm since day 5. Ammonia drops from 2ppm-0.25ppm in 6 days (I've recently been half dosing ammonia to 2ppm). NitrAte was at 30ppm 9 days ago. Am I just being impatient or should the nitrIte have decreased by now?

If it's any help the tank is a 46L Fluval Edge with HOB Fluval Edge Power filter. No mature media used. No plants. Sand substrate...well you can see it all in my signature .

Thanks .

 

[Aquascaper]

Have you done any water changes?

 

[KCB]

I did at day 17 as I changed the substrate to sand and the water went very cloudy. Am I supposed to do regular changes? I've been following the instructions from this site and didn't see that mentioned .

 

[Aquascaper]

Not regular changes but if you nitrites aren't going down then a water changes will reduce them preventing the cycle from stalling.

If you did a 50% water change you would still be at 2 - 3ppm nitrite, enough for the bacteria to feed on but not so much to cause problems.

I personally would do a 50% water change and see what happens, it certainly won't do any harm.

 

[KCB]

I personally would do a 50% water change and see what happens, it certainly won't do any harm.

Ok I'll do that, thank you for the advice .

 

[KCB]

So I tested my water today to see if I would have to change the water and to my great surprise the nitrIte had dropped from 5+ppm to 0.25ppm, happy days!