Is This Correct..cycling

[twinkey]

is this correct...im doing a fishless cycle..when i get a reading of


my nitrite was at 0ppm and my ammonia was 0ppm..then i redosed it back to 2.0ppm last nite..i checked them both again this morning ammonia was at 1.0ppm and the nitrite was back up to between 0.25-0.50ppm..i read that when ammonia is added,the nitrite will appear is this correct..then both will go back to 0ppm in 24hr or less

 

[KittyKat]

When one adds ammonia, the water contains ammonia, so one gets an ammonia reading. The ammonia is eventually broken down into nitrite, and nitrite will be broken down into nitrate. Keep dosing 3-5 ppm ammonia once both ammonia and nitrite reach 0 ppm, but no more than once every 24 hours. Once they are both reach 0 ppm in 12 hours, you start your qualifying week. Qualifying week is when you dose once every 24 hours and 12 hours after dosing the ammonia and nitrite are 0 ppm for 7 days in a row. At the end of qualifying week, the cycle is complete.

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[twinkey]

what im seeing is normal then..
so what your saying is...once i add my ammonia and my nitrite is at 0ppm at the time i add the ammonia..the nitrite will rise a nd give me a higher reading,
and in the 24hr period,the ammonia and nitrite should read 0ppm

 

[KittyKat]

so what your saying is...once i add my ammonia and my nitrite is at 0ppm at the time i add the ammonia..

Yes, once ammonia and nitrite hit 0 ppm, top up on ammonia.

the nitrite will rise a nd give me a higher reading,

Yes, ammonia will be converted into nitrite and if it is not converted fast enough into nitrate, you will see a nitrite reading.

and in the 24hr period,the ammonia and nitrite should read 0ppm

No, the aim is that 12 hours after dozing ammonia, ammonia and nitrite should be 0 ppm. This will take some time to happen. Never add ammonia more than once per 24 hours.

 

[twinkey]

so what your saying is...once i add my ammonia and my nitrite is at 0ppm at the time i add the ammonia..

Yes, once ammonia and nitrite hit 0 ppm, top up on ammonia.

the nitrite will rise a nd give me a higher reading,

Yes, ammonia will be converted into nitrite and if it is not converted fast enough into nitrate, you will see a nitrite reading.

and in the 24hr period,the ammonia and nitrite should read 0ppm

No, the aim is that 12 hours after dozing ammonia, ammonia and nitrite should be 0 ppm. This will take some time to happen. Never add ammonia more than once per 24 hours.

think that was the problem..ammonia would get to about 0.25..then i would quickly redose back up..not letting the 24hrs come

 

[KittyKat]

think that was the problem..ammonia would get to about 0.25..then i would quickly redose back up..not letting the 24hrs come

Yep, that generally tends to do funky things to the cycle.