Fishless Cycle

[chich]

my fishless cycle test results currently are:
nitrites 2ppm
nitrates 0.5ppm
when should the nitrates go high? is it after the nitrites go lower?

also ammonia: 0

sorry nitrates are 5.0ppm not 0.5ppm

 

[docbanzai]

my fishless cycle test results currently are:
nitrites 2ppm
nitrates 0.5ppm
when should the nitrates go high? is it after the nitrites go lower?

also ammonia: 0

sorry nitrates are 5.0ppm not 0.5ppm

NitAtes will go sky-high, this is normal. The cycle is complete when Amm & NitrItes drop to zero. Then do the big water change (to remove the nitrAte) then add fish.

 

[chich]

nitrites turn into nitrates yes? so therefor when my nitrites are 0 my nitrates will be very high?

 

[docbanzai]

nitrites turn into nitrates yes? so therefor when my nitrites are 0 my nitrates will be very high?

Yes when the cycle is complete nitrIte is still produced from ammonia and converted to nitrAte. Therefore nitrIte will be consumed as fast as it is created (thus showing zero visible nitrIte) and nitrAte levels will continue to rise as there is nothing to remove nitrAte (this is where the water chances come in!)

Hope this makes sense

DB.