How Do I Get Rid Of These Nitrites?

[Easy]

So I am currently doing a fish less cycle on a 20 g. I am processing all my ammonia in 12 hrs but my nitrites are of the chart deep purple. My nitrates are somewhere between 10-20 . So Why are my Nitrite levels not coming down?


My other thread if you wanna know the history of the tank. Thank you

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/399475-my-20g-setup/

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Since you have nitrates that means your nitrite is being processed but it was probably so high that it's going to take a while for your test to start showing the decrese (since it was so far off the chart) - make sense? As a rule of thumb it takes at least twice as long for your nitrites to get to 0 as it did for your ammonia to reach 0. You're on the right track, so keep at it

 

[Mauigirl]

From all the reading I have been doing I would venture to say ( take my advice with a grain of salt I'm still a bit wet behind the ears)Too high a Nitrite lvl chances stalling the cycle, and in any case you may want to do a bit of a water change to get it back to where you can read the results just for the sake of monitoring if, and how fast its dropping. Also It will hurt nothing to skip a day or two of ammonia dosing to watch the nitrites a bit closer. Your Ammonia eating bacteria don't need to eat every day and it will help to keep the nitrites from getting out of control as well.
At the most make sure you only dose once every 24hrs.
PH lvl can drop during a fish-less and a bit higher helps speed it along, too low and again a possibility for a stall. A bit of a water change can restore this as well.

I'm sure someone will pop in and verify or discount that advice quickly enough.

 

[Tizer]

Generally its the high Nitrate that stalls fishless cycle processes but remember, throughout the whole processes, there is absolutely no reason why you cant do a water change and redose the tank. Fishless cyles do not make for a 'balanced' cycle, the levels are all over the shop through out. Processing Ammonia is phase one, looks like you are good, phase 2 is nitrite and its often said to take longer than phase 1 to get processing. In my experience, its usually 3 weeks for ammonia 2 for nitrite then a week of double zeros so my experience goes against the grain a little.

Its certainly not a quick processes and it cant be rushed.

 

[Salam]

I had the same problem with one of my tank and I did a few consecutive water changes to get the nitrites to a readable level. It really helped, as I actually saw them dropping down. It's just easier to monitor and it doesn't do any harm changing the water and re-dosing the ammonia.

 

[Tizer]

I had the same problem with one of my tank and I did a few consecutive water changes to get the nitrites to a readable level. It really helped, as I actually saw them dropping down. It's just easier to monitor and it doesn't do any harm changing the water and re-dosing the ammonia.

As long as you temperature match and dechlorinate it

 

[Salam]

I had the same problem with one of my tank and I did a few consecutive water changes to get the nitrites to a readable level. It really helped, as I actually saw them dropping down. It's just easier to monitor and it doesn't do any harm changing the water and re-dosing the ammonia.

As long as you temperature match and dechlorinate it

Goes without saying

 

[Tizer]

I had the same problem with one of my tank and I did a few consecutive water changes to get the nitrites to a readable level. It really helped, as I actually saw them dropping down. It's just easier to monitor and it doesn't do any harm changing the water and re-dosing the ammonia.

As long as you temperature match and dechlorinate it

Goes without saying

Not on this forum is doesn't

 

[Salam]

I had the same problem with one of my tank and I did a few consecutive water changes to get the nitrites to a readable level. It really helped, as I actually saw them dropping down. It's just easier to monitor and it doesn't do any harm changing the water and re-dosing the ammonia.

As long as you temperature match and dechlorinate it

Goes without saying

True, true


Not on this forum is doesn't

 

[Mauigirl]

I had the same problem with one of my tank and I did a few consecutive water changes to get the nitrites to a readable level. It really helped, as I actually saw them dropping down. It's just easier to monitor and it doesn't do any harm changing the water and re-dosing the ammonia.

As long as you temperature match and dechlorinate it

Would temperature match be truly vital in a fish-less?
I would assume a Temp swing, as long as not hugely radical, not so important to the bacteria.
De-chlorination however in a fragile new colony is vital for sure.

 

[Tizer]

I cant say 100% if it matters a huge amount, but i wouldn't drain the whole tank and then fill it up with cold tap water "just in case". Why rock the boat etc.

 

[Mauigirl]

I cant say 100% if it matters a huge amount, but i wouldn't drain the whole tank and then fill it up with cold tap water "just in case". Why rock the boat etc.

Sound theory. And good practice. Forget I questioned it in the new tank section.

 

[Easy]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Sounds like what I got is normal. Thank you so much. I'll probably do a water change tomorrow as I was wanting to lean up some algae anyways. Thanks again!

 

[Tizer]

should have any algae in a fishless cycle really...unless you blast the lights onto the tank all day long

 

[Easy]

should have any algae in a fishless cycle really...unless you blast the lights onto the tank all day long

..... )p trying to get my plants to grow a bit before I get the fish but I overdid it. I'll be cutting it back to just a few hours in the evening.