Is my cycle stalled?

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

Hi Reefers!

Day 18 of cycling my tank using Dr. Tims one and only; the following parameters have been achieved and the history is as per below:

Day 18 (03/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Could my high nitrate levels (maxing out both my Hanna checker as well as API) have stalled the cycle? I have not seen any changes to the Nitrite levels for the past four days. I have heard it might be an issue.

What do you say? Patience- or water change?

Note: No source of ammonia have been added since day 7.

Cheers!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Day 1 (16/09/2022):
Dr. Tims / 25 ml of ammonia added

Day 2 (17/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 1.50 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

Day 3 (18/09/2022):
Added 25 ml of ammonia

Day 4 (19/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 1.10 ppm

Day 5 (20/09/2022):
pH: 8.5
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 1.50 ppm

Day 6 (21/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrate: 1.90 ppm

Day 7 (22/09/2022):
Added 25 ml of ammonia

Day 8 (23/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 4.00 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: 5.20 ppm

Day 9 (24/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 4.00 ppm
Nitrite: 1.50 ppm
Nitrate: 11.10 ppm

Day 10 (25/09/2022):
pH: 8.3
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: 18.30 ppm

Day 11 (26/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 4.00 ppm
Nitrate: 45.50 ppm

Day 12 (27/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 1.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm

Day 13 (28/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 1.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 14 (29/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 0.50 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 15 (30/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 16 (01/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 17 (02/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Garf · Oct 3, 2022

CasperOe said:
Hi Reefers!

Day 18 of cycling my tank using Dr. Tims one and only; the following parameters have been achieved and the history is as per below:

Day 18 (03/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Could my high nitrate levels (maxing out both my Hanna checker as well as API) have stalled the cycle? I have not seen any changes to the Nitrite levels for the past four days. I have heard it might be an issue.

What do you say? Patience- or water change?

Note: No source of ammonia have been added since day 7.

Cheers!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Day 1 (16/09/2022):
Dr. Tims / 25 ml of ammonia added

Day 2 (17/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 1.50 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

Day 3 (18/09/2022):
Added 25 ml of ammonia

Day 4 (19/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 1.10 ppm

Day 5 (20/09/2022):
pH: 8.5
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 1.50 ppm

Day 6 (21/09/2022):

pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrate: 1.90 ppm

Day 7 (22/09/2022):
Added 25 ml of ammonia

Day 8 (23/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 4.00 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: 5.20 ppm

Day 9 (24/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 4.00 ppm
Nitrite: 1.50 ppm
Nitrate: 11.10 ppm

Day 10 (25/09/2022):
pH: 8.3
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: 18.30 ppm

Day 11 (26/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 4.00 ppm
Nitrate: 45.50 ppm

Day 12 (27/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 1.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm

Day 13 (28/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 1.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 14 (29/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 0.50 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 15 (30/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 16 (01/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 17 (02/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

The nitrite in the water is messing with your nitrate test. Lots of folk ignore nitrite and as long as ammonia is low or zero, you are good.

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

Garf said:
The nitrite in the water is messing with your nitrate test. Lots of folk ignore nitrite and as long as ammonia is low or zero, you are good.

My ammonia has been low for days- 0 reading on both Hanna, Salifert and Red Sea.. I might try and dose up to 1.00 PPM and check that it will come down to 0 again.

Would you do a water change now to bring down the nitrates?

Daniel92481 · Oct 3, 2022

Yes. If you have nitrates, your tank is cycled. Go ahead with the water change.

Tamberav · Oct 3, 2022

When ammonia hits 0 and is being processed, I consider cycle done. Nothing is stalled here. It processed the ammonia and now you have nitrates/nitrites... it is working as intended.

Looks done to me.

Garf · Oct 3, 2022

I’ve never understood the need to water change after a cycle, to be honest. I don’t.

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

Daniel92481 said:
Yes. If you have nitrates, your tank is cycled. Go ahead with the water change.

Oh, I got plenty

Big water change coming right up..

TheReefDiary · Oct 3, 2022

CasperOe said:
Hi Reefers!

Day 18 of cycling my tank using Dr. Tims one and only; the following parameters have been achieved and the history is as per below:

Day 18 (03/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Could my high nitrate levels (maxing out both my Hanna checker as well as API) have stalled the cycle? I have not seen any changes to the Nitrite levels for the past four days. I have heard it might be an issue.

What do you say? Patience- or water change?

Note: No source of ammonia have been added since day 7.

Cheers!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Day 1 (16/09/2022):
Dr. Tims / 25 ml of ammonia added

Day 2 (17/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 1.50 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

Day 3 (18/09/2022):
Added 25 ml of ammonia

Day 4 (19/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 1.10 ppm

Day 5 (20/09/2022):
pH: 8.5
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 1.50 ppm

Day 6 (21/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrate: 1.90 ppm

Day 7 (22/09/2022):
Added 25 ml of ammonia

Day 8 (23/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 4.00 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: 5.20 ppm

Day 9 (24/09/2022):
pH: 8.6
Ammonia: 4.00 ppm
Nitrite: 1.50 ppm
Nitrate: 11.10 ppm

Day 10 (25/09/2022):
pH: 8.3
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: 18.30 ppm

Day 11 (26/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 2.00 ppm
Nitrite: 4.00 ppm
Nitrate: 45.50 ppm

Day 12 (27/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 1.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm

Day 13 (28/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 1.00 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 14 (29/09/2022):
pH: 8.1
Ammonia: 0.50 ppm
Nitrite: 2.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 15 (30/09/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 16 (01/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Day 17 (02/10/2022):
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1.00 ppm
Nitrate: +75.00 ppm (API 160)

Cycle is definitely complete. You can also test by adding ammonium chloride and seeing how quickly the system gets rid of it.

Tamberav · Oct 3, 2022

CUC time?

Cell · Oct 3, 2022

Don't bother testing nitrate until your nitrite goes down.

brandon429 · Oct 3, 2022

I couldn't help but think how lucky we were today since the op reported favorable ammonia readings to the group. imagine if he'd said .25, or .5/ cycle would be deemed broken

there is a rule and measure for cycles being completed, that runs independent to what folks report with api or red sea. that factor is 18 days after using 1 day bottle bac...he's cycled for that reason, not because 1/1000 api test owners report a hard zero.

the only reason this thread isn't going to ten hard pages lol is because of the ability to wield api quite well here. good job on OP, I'm not sure if I am happy with the umpire calls because I've seen what happens when an op decides the reading is .5. Cell I know u wouldn't have flexed either way.

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

TheReefDiary said:
Cycle is definitely complete. You can also test by adding ammonium chloride and seeing how quickly the system gets rid of it.

Thanks; I have added a dose after doing a 20% water change taking the ammonia to 1.00 PPM

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

Cell said:
Don't bother testing nitrate until your nitrite goes down.

I have ordered a Salifert Nitrite test kit today; I don't trust this API kit! No change in reading after doing a 20% water change. We shall see tomorrow once the Amazon driver drops it off.

brandon429 · Oct 3, 2022

you are cycled, the last two actions posted were not needed.

brandon429 · Oct 3, 2022

where you stand in the cycle: your tank can carry fish, but before adding any, spend one week reading / bringing up posts and reading/ in the disease forum out on the main page. look at how they prep tanks that are done cycling, and ready for fish. it's not by buying a nitrite test kit, nor adding more ammonia.

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

brandon429 said:
you are cycled, the last two actions posted were not needed.

Surely I won't be adding any fish with nitrates higher than I can test with a test-kit going all the way to 160 ppm?

.. or am I wrong?

brandon429 · Oct 3, 2022

you will see when reading the disease forum that nitrates have no bearing at all when it comes to fish in a reef tank, they don't factor. fish health is the same if nitrates are 4ppm or 160ppm (Paul B's reef is this high, all healthy fish)

be reading the stickies in the disease forum, it will undo all the prior learning that had you thinking nitrate matters

send back your nitrite kit for credit/not needed/we don't test for it in updated cycling science. he's stating that while nitrite is present, you can't accurately test for nitrate.

so you'd wait 30 days to begin nitrate testing, which has nothing to do with fish use. 30 days = nitrite is controlled on all cycling charts, you don't have to wait for it or test for it.

move past testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, study on pure fish disease prep bc your tank is ready to carry fish now.

resume testing for nitrate in 30-60 days, it has no bearing on your tank's ability to keep fish. nitrate balancing is for invasion tuning and color tuning in corals, that's it. it's a long-term scope measure, not something you need to know in the first half year.

Cell · Oct 3, 2022

CasperOe said:
Surely I won't be adding any fish with nitrates higher than I can test with a test-kit going all the way to 160 ppm? .. or am I wrong?

The presence of nitrite is greatly elevating your nitrate reading. You cannot trust your nitrate reading until nitrite is depleted.

CasperOe · Oct 3, 2022

brandon429 said:
you will see when reading the disease forum that nitrates have no bearing at all when it comes to fish in a reef tank, they don't factor. fish health is the same if nitrates are 4ppm or 160ppm (Paul B's reef is this high, all healthy fish)

be reading the stickies in the disease forum, it will undo all the prior learning that had you thinking nitrate matters

send back your nitrite kit for credit/not needed/we don't test for it in updated cycling science. he's stating that while nitrite is present, you can't accurately test for nitrate.

so you'd wait 30 days to begin nitrate testing, which has nothing to do with fish use. 30 days = nitrite is controlled on all cycling charts, you don't have to wait for it or test for it.

move past testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, study on pure fish disease prep bc your tank is ready to carry fish now.

resume testing for nitrate in 30-60 days, it has no bearing on your tank's ability to keep fish. nitrate balancing is for invasion tuning and color tuning in corals, that's it. it's a long-term scope measure, not something you need to know in the first half year.