How To Get Nitrites To Drop?

[emmajt]

My nitrites are spiked for 4 days, how to get nitrites to drop? Are water changes helpful?
My ammonia is bein processed less than 12 hours each day.

 

[fluttermoth]

Do you have fish in? If you do, big water changes until you get it down to zero.

If you're fishless, then you just have to wait. If it's very, very high, you can do a water change to bring it down a bit, but it's not essential, unless the nitrite is off the top of the scale.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Is this a fishless cycle? If it is, then it is normal to get a nitrite spike after about two weeks.

If this is a "fish in cycle" with fish present, you should be looking at a massive (~95%) water change at the first sign of a nitrite spike.

 

[emmajt]

Do you have fish in? If you do, big water changes until you get it down to zero.

If you're fishless, then you just have to wait. If it's very, very high, you can do a water change to bring it down a bit, but it's not essential, unless the nitrite is off the top of the scale.

No im fishless.... It is off the scale, very top end! how big of a water change and will it effect anything?

I just want to get my fish as quick as possible with it being safe for them impatience kicking in!
how long does the spike last?

 

[fluttermoth]

I would do a 50% water change and then test it again. Very high nitrite (and nitrate) can stall a cycle, but lowering it also means you can see more easily (and quickly) when the nitrite starts to drop.

It should only take a few days before you see it drop, but this part of the cycle often does take longer than the ammonia bit.

 

[emmajt]

I would do a 50% water change and then test it again. Very high nitrite (and nitrate) can stall a cycle, but lowering it also means you can see more easily (and quickly) when the nitrite starts to drop.

It should only take a few days before you see it drop, but this part of the cycle often does take longer than the ammonia bit.

Ahh thats not good my ammonia took ages to drop too going to do te water change now!

 

[fluttermoth]

I did only say it's often slower, not always! You might be one of the lucky ones, you never know.

Anyway, it'll all be worth it in the end, and you can console yourself with the fact that you'll never have to do this again! All your other tanks can be cloned from this one

 

[emmajt]

I did only say it's often slower, not always! You might be one of the lucky ones, you never know.

Anyway, it'll all be worth it in the end, and you can console yourself with the fact that you'll never have to do this again! All your other tanks can be cloned from this one

Thanks a lot!
Also is it correct that my nitrate levels are already supper high along with the nitrites?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, that's correct. Nitrate will always be high at the end of a cycle; tat's why you have to do a big water change before you get your first fish.

High nitrate can stall a cycle, if it gets up into the 100s, so keep an eye on it and do another water change if it gets that high