So I have just recently set up my 16g biocube using 12lbs caribsea life rock and aragalive sand. I used dr Tims to kick off the cycle and used in conjunction with ammonium chloride. My question is why my nitrites aren't going down. I dose to 2ppm of ammonia and within 24 hours the level is down to 0 ppm however the nitrites have consistently been off the charts for over a week now. Am I missing something? The tank has only been up and running for about two weeks so I may be getting a little ahead of myself, I just expected the nitrites to have gone down by now. Any suggestions??
Cycling Questions:
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
It could be any number of things, the most likely being that you just don't have enough of the nitrite processing bacteria in relation to the ammonia processing ones.
You have stopped adding ammonia at this point, correct? If not, stop. Give it a few days to see if it comes down.
Fortunately, marine fish aren't negatively impacted by nitrites so even if they don't come down in a few days you can still add a CuC and add a fish.
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Afrashz
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Should I really add a cuc before I start to see any algae growth? I figured they would just starve if I did. Also I thought nitrites were slightly toxic to marine inhabitants, I could be wrong.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
You can add a small CuC, you will get some algae growth quickly once you start adding fish to feed.
Nitrites are toxic to marine inhabitants. Fortunately, the same receptors that would absorb the nitrites from the water prefer to take in chlorides. So the salt in saltwater prevents the fish from taking in the nitrites.
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
If
Don't have any algae, the cuc will starve. Either wait to add them until you see algae occurring (probably best) or you can supplement them with algae wafers, seaweed rubber-banded to a rock, etc...
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Some algae can be awful to deal with but you will not be able to keep all algae out of your tank. It just isn't possible.
Yup, exactly this.
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
You would need to add algae as food for the CUC of you add the CUC too early... otherwise they will starve and die. Algae wafers and seaweed aren't the nuisance algaes that will grow in your aquarium.
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I would say that you are just in the middle of a cycle and need to quit adding ammonia and let it finish doing it's thing. The process can take 30-60 days so I wouldn't be worried 2 weeks in.
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Afrashz
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Quick question, I just measured my nitrate for the first time and they are up around 80 ppm, would you guys suggest doing a small water change to try and get that number down or wait until my nitrites drop and my tank becomes cycled?
IslandLifeReef
Valuable Member
No. A lot of nitrate test kits will give you false high readings if there is any nitrite in the tank. This happens because the test converts nitrate to nitrite and then measures total nitrite. So, the nitrate test is actually measuring both the nitrite and nitrate in your tank and telling you that it is all nitrate. Unless you have added approx. 10ppm of ammonia during your cycle, your nitrates are not that high. Wait until nitrites are 0 ppm and then test for nitrates.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
+1 to this!
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
wait until the cycle is 100% complete and then do your 50% water change. No big deal having high nitrates during the cycle... just don't turn any lights on over the tank! If you do, you could have a huge algae bloom before your ready to take care of it. The only thing you really need to be testing for is ammonia... watching it reduce. When you can dose up 1-2ppm ammonia (depending size of tank) and clear it to zero in 24hrs, then you're cycled.
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Okay, step back. LEAVE THE TANK ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A water change at this point could restart the cycle. The only thing you should be doing at this point is testing the water every few days and then topping off with RODI water as needed as water evaporates.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I actually like trying to grow algae when cycling a tank. The algae will consume ammonia directly making the tank that much safer for inhabitants. Some people will only call a tank cycled when they see algae starting to grow on rocks. But, I understand why people may not want to. In that case, leaving the lights off is good advice.
A water change won't restart the cycle, but it is completely unnecessary and a waste of time and money. I agree that the only thing necessary is to top off with RODI and do the testing.
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Afrashz
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Okay to today I checked my nitrites and they were 0ppm. So naturally I have a million more questions.
1. Should I add more ammonia to allow the nitrogen cycle to go through a few more times?
2. When should I add my protein skimmer?
3. When should I add my chemipure, filter floss, (phosguard??), and other forms of filtration?
4. Coral or fish first?? I plan on adding 2 clownfish once Im confident the cycle is complete.
5. When should I add the clean up crew and how big of a clean up crew, species?? (16g bilcube)
Sorry for all the questions, quite frankly I'm a noob at this saltwater thing. Im sure Ill have 100 more questions over the next couple months.
1. Should I add more ammonia to allow the nitrogen cycle to go through a few more times?
2. When should I add my protein skimmer?
3. When should I add my chemipure, filter floss, (phosguard??), and other forms of filtration?
4. Coral or fish first?? I plan on adding 2 clownfish once Im confident the cycle is complete.
5. When should I add the clean up crew and how big of a clean up crew, species?? (16g bilcube)
Sorry for all the questions, quite frankly I'm a noob at this saltwater thing. Im sure Ill have 100 more questions over the next couple months.
