Yippee Got Nitrites

[njnauticalnut]

Today when I checked my 75 gallon tank that is cycling fishless, I FINALLY got a nitrite reading of .5. Amonia is about 7ppm.

I added 1/2 the amonia and will now wait through this part of the cycle. The nitrites should rise further, correct? And the amonia should drop.

Soon I will be waiting for nitrates and wishing the nitrites down

By Christmas I should be able to stock some fish!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi njnauticalnut

I'm glad to learn that you're making some progress with the cycling. I hope it continues and finishes up soon. I know you probably cannot stand having to wait much longer.

 

[tstenback]

Well, its about time
It sure is frustrating watching the bacteria grow, isn't it.
Glad to see you are now moving on. Do you have any seed material or can you get any as it would speed the nitrite spike up considerably. Good Luck

 

[njnauticalnut]

Yes, it's a blast watching the bacteria grow and grow and grow....

I can put some seed material in from my small tank, but don't know how much that will help. Seeing some change actually helps a lot. I am very patient, believe that good things come to those who wait! I was just worried that the tank was not really cycling, now I see it is and just have to wait it out.

It is fascinating looking at the empty tank, just enjoying the aquascape. I am getting tired of explaining the "cycle" to my friends and family who do not keep fish and wonder about an empty tank. I am in a bookclub and we are hosting it in August. If I don't have fish by then, I will be razzed to no end by this group as they love to tease and having a large aquarium with no fish will be just the bait they need! Hopefully it will be cycled by then!

crossing finger and toes...

 

[luxum]

You should just claim that there is a school of very small fish in there that like to hide and giggle while they all stare into the tank trying to find them.

Glad you finally got nitrites!

 

[njnauticalnut]

Great idea luxum!

I can tell them that they are a rare school of fish, have to be kept with just each other that is why there are no other fish. In fact I will call them ghost fish instead of ghost shrimp. I may have to add, "Look one just swam by, there in the back right corner...

happily cycling!

 

[punkserb]

i was having the same problem. i have a 5 gallon and my only seed was a java fern... after a week or so of adding ammonia and getting no nitrites i just said feck it and went to petsmart, got 2 large potted plants and another java fern! i now have the greenest tank i've seen so far! the plants are too tall for the tank and leaves float at the top, but i think they'll be alright...right?

needless to say, after only 2 days, my nitrites are now SKY HIGH! i keep adding now only 3 ammonia drops daily. i have some nitrates too but the nitrites are off the charts.....i'm thinking i should do a water change to lower them a bit to at least be able to measure them....or should i just wait it out?

and yes it driving me crazy having no fish. my girlfriend and friends make of me to no end....

 

[njnauticalnut]

Punk,

Yeah, people who don't understand how to keep fish don't understand why you just don't get a tank and stock it.

I have a friend who had a betta for several years, it just died this past month. She did nothing, but feed it and every once in awhile, very rarely, changed the water, a 100% change.

Last year when I was having some problems with some fish dying she said the best way to keep them alive is just to ignore the tank.

Last night my readings were:

amonia 7ppm
nitrites 5ppm (went way up from .5 the day before)
nitrates 5ppm

I did not add amonia as I want to see if it will come down a bit today as the bacteria should be taking care of it. I know that I still need to add 1/2 the amonia, but figured if I could get it down to readable levels on the chart, I would better be able to monitor it. Is the best way to do this to not add amonia or to do a water change?

Thanks!

 

[tstenback]

keep going with the ammonia, it will go away as the bacteria base keeps building.
Good luck and be patient

 

[punkserb]

i agree. i just kept goign with the ammonia. it was at a point where i thought i f#cked up so bad i may as well see how it goes for another week.

turns out however that everything went just as planned!

only problem now is the waiting for the nitrites to come down and whether i should do anything about a brown algae that seems to be growing on my glass (acrylic.) also there are patchs of very green algae in certain parts of the tank. should this be dealth with now?