Cycling 55 gallon tank

[Sterny331]

Hey guys,
Starting cycling the new 55 gallon tank about 15 days ago. I started with 40lbs off base rock and then dropped in 15 lbs of live stuff. I also manually added the correct amount of ammonia and bacteria booster to get The process started.

My ammonia is processing in about 12 hours I would say. Nitrites are sky high 5ppm+... nitrates are about 30-40ppm. Do I just keep waiting this out? Should I be adding ammonia daily? If so how much I don’t want to get stalled on the nitrite part of the cycle. Also Ph is around 8.2. I have been keeping ammonia around .5 -1ppm per day

Any helpful advice is appreciated

Thanks

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nope. Just wait a month. You can add some more ammonia in a couple of weeks to check , but you don’t have too.

 

[deedubz]

Welcome to r2r!

 

[Sterny331]

Doesn’t the beneficial bacteria need the ammonia? I just don’t want to get stalled on the nitrite phase

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You added the ammoina correct?

Plus I’ll assume there are other organics in the tank and rock that will decompose soon.

 

[Sterny331]

I did add the ammonia but it’s has been processed into nitrite already and is at 0. Nitrites are a very deep purple I would guess 10ppm nitrates about 30-40

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’d let it complete that cycle and see.


Then maybe test by addin another small dose in a couple weeks.

 

[Sterny331]

Ok thanks. Just trying to be thorough

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

No problem at all.
It’s funny , no matter how much we read and learn, one you do it , it’s hard t belive it all comes down to waiting.

 

[Sterny331]

Alright guys I have an update. Ammonia at 0 nitrites are all the way down to 1 now... nitrates at 40-60