Cycle stall !?

[Lasse]

My article here - but do not - in this case following it like a book. Take the parts that you can use of the method in your actual situation. Do not ad any more fish before the NO2 is down. Do not test NO3 - as long as you have NO2 in the system - you get false NO3 readings. In you case - with stalling NO2 - maybe adding some PO4 can help - read the post in my article discussion parts

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Jack684523]

Nitrates will not test properly if you have nitrite it the tank. You will always get a false high reading, so stop measuring them until you get your nitrites down to 0 ppm. The red stringy things are probably cyano, but it is hard to tell without a picture. If ammonia is 0 ppm, time will be your best friend lowering the nitrites. Your tank needs to build the bacterial bed to convert nitrite efficiently. If you start adding chemicals to remove the nitrite, you are only lengthening the process. Keep doing weekly water changes, keep testing ammonia and nitrite, and stop listening to that LFS, they aren't helping you. I would also recommend trying Fritz turbo start 900, or just adding the remainder of the bottle of Dr. Timms One and Only. With Dr. Timms, you really need to shake it well because the bacteria tends to settle to the bottom and is very difficult to get it suspended in the solution. The Fritz is also a reliable product and will give you a little diversity.

Woke up this morning and nitrite is completely gone ! What do u think would be the following steps

 

[Jack684523]

No water change. Just follow the directions on the bottle.

Woke up this morning checked my levels and this how they came out it’s been like this since yesterday do u think it’s cycled ?

 

[Lasse]

Congratulations

If the NO2 reading is true - your system has an established nitrification process - you can go further introduce fish and so on. But take it carefully – feed very sparse and rise the amount of food slowly. Do not trust the NH3/NH4 measurements if they show anything.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I would verify the test again tomorrow, and if it is the same, then yes, you can start SLOWLY adding more fish. @Lasse is more familiar with cycling with a fish, so I would follow his advise.

 

[MnFish1]

I put together a 10 gallon nano reef about 4 weeks ago. I used a aquaclear70. 10 pounds live rock live sand and dr Tim’s one and only. I didn’t know much about putting a tank together so I figured my LFS could help me but this is where I think I messed up Lol. He told me to use the dr Tim’s and add a fish that he had given me and told me to come back after 4 days w. My water sample. I go back to him he tells me my tank is cycled and is ready for corals. Idk why I listened to him but I did. He told me to buy 4 snails a frog spawn and a gsp. I am now 4 weeks into my cycle w. Them still in my tank. I bought a api test kit ,y nitrites and nitrates are sky high i really don’t know what to do my nitrites and nitrates have been sky high for 2 weeks now but the corals and snails seem like there doing fine. I did like 6 25 percent water changes back to back because that’s what the lfs told me to do and still nothing. I even added more dr Tim’s like they told me to. Any idea on what you guys think I should do.

One thing that's important - make sure the tests are correct. Unless there is something 'dead' in the tank (live rock - with something dying?) Secondly - @Brew12 I believe has said that some nitrite tests read 'positive' with a high nitrate and vice versa. Thirdly - My guess is that everything is fine - if it looks 'fine'. If the nitrate is 'high' indeed your cycle is complete. Also - I noticed that overnight the nitrite is low - but your nitrate is 0 - something is not right with your testing.

 

[Lasse]

Is not the other way around. Nitrite in the water will give false nitrate readings but nitrate will not give false nitrite readings. When the second step start to work after a stall - its normally as you describe - like a power switch

Sincerely Lasse

 

[PirateDan]

So do you think I should jus let the tank sit and not add anything for now? Should I do more frequent water changes for now or jus let everything run

That’s exactly what you need too do. Stop adding stuff and let you’re tank cycle. Slow and steady.