BiggestE222
Active Member
It was yellow when I cycled.
Ammonia/ nitrate
- Thread starter Codemasterflex1
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BiggestE222
Active Member
Looks like 0 nitrate. 40 nitrate
OP
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Codemasterflex1
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Should I test my nitrites again? Or do you think my nitrate is just a false read?
elorablue
Valuable Member
Ok here goes.
Did you dose Ammonia back up to 2ppm and then retest 24 to 36 hours later?
If so did your Ammonia return to 0?
If it did then you're done your cycle.
Now to deal with the high nitrates, after doing the Ammonia trick, do a 75% (roughly) water change all at once. This will almost certainly bring your nitrates down to a range around 20 I would think. If it does, then add your fish and have fun.
My scenario: I reached 0ppm ammonia after 7 or 8 days. I dosed to 2ppm and it came down to 0 after 24 hours.
Meanwhile my nitrates were hovering around 80ppm! Aaaaaaand my nitrites were almost 2ppm. I left the tank for another 2 weeks fretting about the nitrites which were stuck at 2ppm, then I researched and found that nitrites at that level are irrelevant in a SW aquarium. So, relieved, I did an 80% water change which brought my nitrates down to around 20 and I added my first 2 fish.
btw...my nitrites continued to read 2ppm for 6 weeks before they finally hit zero.
Since that time my nitrates are between 10 and 15 ppm and I have no skimmer nor refugium.
Have at it brother!!
I hope this helps in some way.
and a side note @brandon429 is very passionate and knowledgeable about this subject and is an extremely valuable resource, however can be incredibly confusing at the same time LOL!
The most confusing is when someone who’s been cycled weeks is asked to recycle over and over and then when the nitrate is sky high it’s deemed not cycled.
so
earlier, days ago when in post number 3 we deemed him cycled, that means he’s done. It didn’t meant he’s not done and we need to dose more ammonia to a cycled reef to get proof of being cycled
so
earlier, days ago when in post number 3 we deemed him cycled, that means he’s done. It didn’t meant he’s not done and we need to dose more ammonia to a cycled reef to get proof of being cycled
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elorablue
Valuable Member
Agreed. However, a part of human nature is wanting to make sure. What harm does it do to re-dose ammonia and wait 24 hours? 1 day in the life of your reef? it does no harm and provides piece of mind to the reefer. I will always do it on all tanks I cycle from here on in.
And nowhere did I say that high nitrates have anything to do with the cycle not being complete.
The tank is cycled, feel free to advise any number of reverifications, the prior ump had assessed the cycle as problematic due to nitrate if you read the thread flow/post 59. clicking link #3 is useless anyway if you're determined to see re proofing for yourself, have him do it. I think op is backed out anyway by now, ya'll can advise infinite retests on a fully cycled reef here as much as you like.
cycles have a set time of completion, known before the tank is even assembled, factoring the boosters used. That time has elapsed, post 3 shows the time and boosters used
You're operating on the theory that cycles can't have a predicted start date, need to be doubly verified for accuracy, and by than extension no reef convention can start on time because the entrants tanks might vary and they'd need an extra day to set up shop.
its only like that in forums, not irl
cycles have a set time of completion, known before the tank is even assembled, factoring the boosters used. That time has elapsed, post 3 shows the time and boosters used
You're operating on the theory that cycles can't have a predicted start date, need to be doubly verified for accuracy, and by than extension no reef convention can start on time because the entrants tanks might vary and they'd need an extra day to set up shop.
its only like that in forums, not irl
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I bet a virtual coin when we check back on page ten, someone is still debating this cycle that's awesome. the op will have three anemones by then and they'll all be alive, because
fun exercise:
read his original post about the tank and list the ways the cycle can fail considering those details, where it could not be ready after this many days underwater
are there any cycling charts that agree with that possibility?
Ill list the first way the cycle can fail you do a couple more:
1. after cycling, the aquarist measured out and input antibiotics known to neutralize aquatic bacteria.
(Im leaving you boiling and freezing to apply)
read his original post about the tank and list the ways the cycle can fail considering those details, where it could not be ready after this many days underwater
are there any cycling charts that agree with that possibility?
Ill list the first way the cycle can fail you do a couple more:
1. after cycling, the aquarist measured out and input antibiotics known to neutralize aquatic bacteria.
(Im leaving you boiling and freezing to apply)
