Months…and nitrites STILL 2.0ppg

[blawndie]

Newbie here! Been cycling 2 months now. Ammonia hit 0 at 2 weeks or so, and I added 2 clowns. They are very happy. Nitrites went up to 2.0ppm. Nitrates slowly rose at about week 6 to 30ppm. I have 100gallon tank and 20gal sump. Is my testing off? I keep looking and reading I may have somehow stalled? I have diatoms. TY!!

 

[lapin]

Why do you think there is something wrong?
Nitrates might be high because of over feeding, or it could be your water. Are you doing water changes? They can help until your tank settles in.

 

[blawndie]

Why do you think there is something wrong?
Nitrates might be high because of over feeding, or it could be your water. Are you doing water changes? They can help until your tank settles in.

I am not. I have asked three different stores and they have told me not to but then I read things online and it makes it seem OK as long as I do a little by little. I was leaning toward that, but then it scares me.

 

[blawndie]

I am not. I have asked three different stores and they have told me not to but then I read things online and it makes it seem OK as long as I do a little by little. I was leaning toward that, but then it scares me.

Ps-thx for the reply; I truly want to learn!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Why the multiple posts with the exact same question?

 

[apb03]

Your tank seems cycled to me, I don't see an issue with doing water changes at this point. Also 30ppm nitrates aren't anything to worry about. Water changes will reduce the nitrates.

 

[JNalley]

I don't believe in "stalled" cycles... it's not like bacteria just stop doing their job and reproducing. That said, if your ammonia is at 0 and you have nitrates, and your nitrites are that low, you can stop testing nitrites. Don't even worry about it, you have the bacterial colonies capable of converting it to nitrate as is evidenced by the fact that your nitrate is going up.

Next, go ahead and do water changes... Do 10 or even 20% changes weekly. Do it until you get a handle on everything else. Then you can stop doing it, forever, or at least until something comes up like a spike in nutrients, or chemical warfare, or something along those lines.

 

[blawndie]

Why the multiple posts with the exact same question?

I checked-I only saw some nitrates high…I’m a newbie. I’m not a bot if that’s what you are asking.

 

[blawndie]

I don't believe in "stalled" cycles... it's not like bacteria just stop doing their job and reproducing. That said, if your ammonia is at 0 and you have nitrates, and your nitrites are that low, you can stop testing nitrites. Don't even worry about it, you have the bacterial colonies capable of converting it to nitrate as is evidenced by the fact that your nitrate is going up.

Next, go ahead and do water changes... Do 10 or even 20% changes weekly. Do it until you get a handle on everything else. Then you can stop doing it, forever, or at least until something comes up like a spike in nutrients, or chemical warfare, or something along those lines

 

[blawndie]

I am not even sure about nutrient or chemical warfare…wanted to get into this on my own and trying to learn! Thank you!

 

[ScottMil]

I’m a newbie too! One month into the fishless cycle with Dr Tim’s and ammonia. Ammonia is dropping to near zero today. I’m assuming it will be zero tomorrow. I will dose with ammonia and see where I am in 24 hours. I am seeing posts about nitrite not being toxic to saltwater fish but when I google it everything that comes up says that nitrite is extremely toxic. I’d hate to believe that it isn’t and put a fish in and have the nitrite fry it! Can someone show me some science on nitrite affects on saltwater fish?