Cycling help!

[Drew911]

Hello everyone! I’m new to the forum and now getting back into the hobby after several years. I’m three weeks into cycling. I used bio spira with an ammonia source to cycle my 29g tank and I know that I have made a mistake and rushed the process. My ammonia level was at 0 ppm the other day, but my nitrites were at about 4ppm. I mistakenly rushed and added more of my ammonia source without letting nitrites go back down. my nitrites and nitrates are now through the roof. Ammonia back down to 0ppm after about a day. I’m concerned nitrites won’t go down for a while now even though I was close to a finished cycle. Any ideas on what to do?

 

[blaxsun]

Define "through the roof". You can try something like NOPOX to lower your nitrates, but start out with half of the recommended dosage.

 

[Lavey29]

Just add some more nitrifying bacteria. Give it a week and do your first water change.

 

[Uncle99]

Your cycled.
Gone are the endless cycles resulting from poor test kits.
Assuming you have rock, sand and saltwater heated.
Good bacteria choice.
Ready for your first ammonia maker.
Good luck.

 

[Drew911]

Your cycled.
Gone are the endless cycles resulting from poor test kits.
Assuming you have rock, sand and saltwater heated.
Good bacteria choice.
Ready for your first ammonia maker.
Good luck.

Oh wow! Thanks for this. Bio spira led me to having great fast results, I just got a little too ahead of myself. I will add fish in a few days and start water changes!

 

[Drew911]

Define "through the roof". You can try something like NOPOX to lower your nitrates, but start out with half of the recommended dosage.

Also to answer this:

using api master kit
Nitrite: off of api’s scale, cannot read

nitrate: seems to be in the 100’s (ppm)

I know api is known for not giving correct outputs, but I am still concerned with numbers this high.

 

[131696]

Leave that tank alone ,just watch it come back in 1 month and test no hurry why is everyone in a hurry these days .be patient if your a lifer reefer make up your mind now if your willing to do this for next years and years if so why be in a hurry Now?

 

[blaxsun]

And invest in a better testing kit. You just need the Salifert nitrate one for now.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Leave that tank alone ,just watch it come back in 1 month and test no hurry why is everyone in a hurry these days .be patient if your a lifer reefer make up your mind now if your willing to do this for next years and years if so why be in a hurry Now?

OK. Maybe you are the one I need to ask. This is my first tank. I used live sand and marco rock but haven't added anything else besides water. The guy at my lfs says I should just add bio-spira and then a clown fish. Pretty much everything I read or watch involves me adding Dr. Tim's or some other form. Is it truly necessary? I am intrigued to watch things grow in the tank or will that just not happen without adding something besides the sand. Also, does bio spira really make it instantly safe for a fish? Also I thought the whole purpose of cycling a tank was to build up good bacteria which shouldn't that take time? On the other hand the guy at my lfs has an amazing tank and he used a bottle of something and put fish and coral in pretty much right away.