Nitrites

[Lhutch]

any1 know how long it will take 5ppm of nitrites to go down to 0?

 

[Matty P]

Is your benificial bacteria established?

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

If you are currently cycling...it's hard to tell since every tank is different. Average is about 2 weeks.

 

[Matty P]

Yeh around about that...

 

[Lhutch]

yea im at the end of cycling my tank now my 8ppm of ammonia is down to 0,5ppm of nitrites,my question is how long till i hit 0 nitrites and get some nitrates

 

[Don Trinko]

If you are cycling your tank it takes abought 6 weeks total. If you have no amonia and 5 nitrites and 0 nitrates it will be abought two more weeks. You should see the nitrites go to 0 and nitrates go up at the same time. Don T.

 

[Lhutch]

ok well here is my situation,ive put 8ppm of ammonia in lkie 3 times,the first time is when i cycled and ammonia went to 0ppm,then i went on vaca and added ammonia to keep the bacteria alive,and 0 ppm of ammonia again,omw back from vaca i bought a nitrite test,making sure im cycled 2 days ago i added 8ppm of ammonia now im at 0ppm ammonia,is it possible that my nitrites will go quiker because i have done this step before?

 

[backtotropical]

Just a waiting game Lhutch. Sit tight.

 

[Lhutch]

should i keep adding in little swigs of ammonia? or should i just let it do its thing,i dunno if the bacteria will die if they dont have the ammonia,what do u think?

 

[backtotropical]

Keep adding ammonia definitely or the bacteria will die. Add about 5ppm of ammonia, wait til it gets to 0, then add another 5ppm. Keep doing this until you have a reading of 0 for ammonia AND nitrite.

DONT STOP ADDING AMMONIA OR YOU WILL NEED TO START AGAIN!!

Hope this helps.

 

[Lhutch]

thanks so much

 

[Lhutch]

CYCLED!,did a nitrites test this afternoon, NONE!,did a nitrates test,40ppm, i knew it wouldnt take long because its done it before