Been cycling 6 weeks, nitrites still thru the roof

[oldenred]

Tank has been running for six weeks. 265 gallon and roughly 60 gallons actual water in sump. Roughly 400lbs of rock total. Salinity 1.025. Ammonia has been gone for two weeks. Nitrites are between 5-10ppm and not budging for more than two weeks. Have plenty of nitrates too. Already had one algae bloom. My filter socks turn orange daily and get changed daily due to this. I tried doing water changes last week. Did three 110 gallons three days in a row with no help. Other than wait it out do I have any options?

 

[Halal Hotdog]

You can start carbon dosing to help the bacteria reproduce faster, which should get the nitries to zero and lead to higher nitrates. Once that stabilizes and you continue to carbon dose then you will be able to get the nitrates lower as well.

 

[O'l Salty]

Nothing good happens fast.

 

[ritter6788]

What rock did you start out with and what are you using for source water?

 

[sloanhaus]

Been going a month and my nitrates are at 100, so you are doing better than me. PH is at 11 too. Think I’m screwed. 400 gallon tank with 400 lbs of live rock. This was my old live rock. I bleached it for a week. No water changes yet, wasn’t sure if I need to do this in the first month.

 

[sloanhaus]

I’m in the same process. 1 month in and my Nitrates are at 100 and PH is at 11. Haven’t done water change yet, wasn’t sure if I need to do that 1st month. 400 gallons 400 lbs of live rock. Live rock was bleached for a week before putting it in. I have no clue what to do.

 

[Maggie321]

Wait. Give it a full 6 weeks and then give it 2 more.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm going to guess you started this tank with dry rock. If so, what you're seeing with the high nitrates is the rock curing.....probably doesn't smell very nice either. The easiest way to reduce this nitrate is large water changes. You most likely will have to do this multiple times to get the nitrates out of that rock. Also typically takes 1 - 2 months.

 

[oldenred]

What rock did you start out with and what are you using for source water?

250lbs of reef saver dry rock, 60lbs of pukani and 90lbs tonga shelf. Pukani and tonga had an acid bath and cleaned prior to going in tank.

 

[ritter6788]

250lbs of reef saver dry rock, 60lbs of pukani and 90lbs tonga shelf. Pukani and tonga had an acid bath and cleaned prior to going in tank.

I'd just wait and give it more time. That dry rock can take a long time to cure.

 

[redfishbluefish]

250lbs of reef saver dry rock, 60lbs of pukani and 90lbs tonga shelf. Pukani and tonga had an acid bath and cleaned prior to going in tank.

Yep! You're seeing rock cure.

 

[sergifed91]

i'm cycling my tank to. I didn't have any issues with ammonia or nitrites. but my nitrates were 160+. had the LFS test it to. same results. then I decided at that point I wanted atleast 2 to 3 LFS stores to test my water for nitrates. all 3 had the same results as I got. I went and did a 80 percent WC. and then used BIO-Spira. within a couple days it was down to 4o. I didn't does any more after that. I finally got a skimmer that didn't show up either damaged in stock or damaged from shipping. have it running since this past Wednesday. I'm not saying it has helped a lot. but a little bit to lower it. Tomorrow I'm getting some macro algea. don't remember what it's called. i'll throw it in my HOB filter and keep that running as a refugium until I can get a sump. might not help much but every bit helps. I'm learning this hobby just takes patience. it will happen eventually. with my nitrates being down. I am just now seeing diatoms. not a whole lot but some. Plus I have been leaving my lights on for 24/7 since sunday. undecided if I'll turn them off tonight or not. QT tank is ready. so I'm looking to start looking at fish 2 purchase. 1 or 2. nothing more than that. as far as frags. that will happen maybe 6 to 12 months down the road once the tank is established.

 

[oldenred]

I'd just wait and give it more time. That dry rock can take a long time to cure.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Same boat here as well. 5-6 weeks in. Ammonia went away very quickly but nitrites have been stuck for weeks. Diatom bloom came and went. Starting to get little green spots now. Just trying my best to be patient and wait out the process

 

[Savo]

@oldenred @Bayareareefer18 any updates on your cycle i am going through the same thing?

 

[oldenred]

Yes. Went to Disney for 8 days. Came back last Monday and was cycled!

 

[Savo]

Awesome. I was going to do a 50 WC, but i'll hold off.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

@oldenred @Bayareareefer18 any updates on your cycle i am going through the same thing?

Did a wc. Nitrite still high. Went ahead and added a cleanup crew per Randys suggestion.

 

[Savo]

When did you do the wc?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Last weekend I believe. That was after over a month of high nitrite