Nitrites To 0 In 24 Hrs For 4 Days

[ranjohns]

Day 24, fishless cycle, Feb. 12, 2009

My ammonia level consistently went to 0 from 4ppm within 24 hours after day 14; now for 5 days to 0 from 3ppm within 12 hours. Nitrites have now gone from 2ppm to 0 within 24 hours for 4 days. Nitrate is 40. pH is steady at 7.6. Where am I in the cycle? Should nitrites go to 0 within 12 hours before cycle is considered complete? Should I increase nitrite does to reach 4ppm? Or, if these numbers and rates hold for another 3 days, is the cycle complete?

Please advise. Everyone here is looking forward to having fish in the tank!

Thanks,

Randy

 

[Rubyuk]

Day 24, fishless cycle, Feb. 12, 2009

My ammonia level consistently went to 0 from 4ppm within 24 hours after day 14; now for 5 days to 0 from 3ppm within 12 hours. Nitrites have now gone from 2ppm to 0 within 24 hours for 4 days. Nitrate is 40. pH is steady at 7.6. Where am I in the cycle? Should nitrites go to 0 within 12 hours before cycle is considered complete? Should I increase nitrite does to reach 4ppm? Or, if these numbers and rates hold for another 3 days, is the cycle complete?

Please advise. Everyone here is looking forward to having fish in the tank!

Thanks,

Randy

Randy

I'm no expert as I'm currently in my first fishless cycle myself.

However I think you are cycled and now just need to do a large water change will will reduce the nitrate levels then its fish time!!

Other experienced members will no doubt come by soon and either reconfirm my suspicions or tell you really whats happening.

Good luck

 

[sangah10]

agreed with above ^

but dont suddenly buy like 9045839048590484 fish at once..do it over time ahahah

 

[Miss Wiggle]

not far off but not quite there i think.

you need to add 5ppm of ammonia, test 12 hrs later and both ammonia and nitrite read 0 to count it as 'cycled'

after this point we strongly recommend that you do a qualifying week where you continue to add 5ppm every day for a week and if the levels hold steady at 0,0 at the 12 hr mark all week then you are ready for fish.

 

[ranjohns]

Thank you! I appreciate your advice. We'll continue to be patient.

Randy

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with MW. That is the procedure. ---wd

 

[ranjohns]

not far off but not quite there i think.

you need to add 5ppm of ammonia, test 12 hrs later and both ammonia and nitrite read 0 to count it as 'cycled'

after this point we strongly recommend that you do a qualifying week where you continue to add 5ppm every day for a week and if the levels hold steady at 0,0 at the 12 hr mark all week then you are ready for fish.

MW, to clarify, I should add enough ammonia to raise the nitrite level to 5ppm, right?

Thanks,
Randy

 

[OldMan47]

That is the right approach RanJohns. You only need to add that dose once a day and test halfway through the day at the 12 hour point.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

you only need to worry about the level the ammonia is raised too, so raise that up to 5ppm don't worry about the level nitrite comes up to but worry about how long it takes for nitrite tio get back down to 0

 

[ranjohns]

you only need to worry about the level the ammonia is raised too, so raise that up to 5ppm don't worry about the level nitrite comes up to but worry about how long it takes for nitrite tio get back down to 0

Miss Wiggle, thanks for the addendum. I've just read it today. I've been trying to get the Nitrites to 5ppm. I'll carry on from here - day 36 coming up.

Ranjohns