newby question about after cycle

[adrianthetwin]

Ok so I have a 10g and the cycle just finished on Sunday and so I did a water change added 5 hermit crabs and a turbo snail something small I guess so now that I'm waiting I did a quick check on my parameters and I notices my nitrites is up like .25ppn it wasn't up when I did a water change am I doing something wrong and also .y water is a little smelly I leave the light on like 8 hours a day so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong and my hermit crab arnt really moving a lot is that normal??? Thanks guys

 

[footballdude2k3]

How long was the tank cycling for? What's your ammonia at? Sounds like you might still be cycling.

 

[fishroomlady]

are you sure your cycle was finished? could one of your new additions died? are you sure you meant to say nitrites are up and not nitrates? Hermits are usually pretty mobile.....I can't think of a reason for the smell though...? bump for your questions - hopefully others can chime in

 

[adrianthetwin]

It's been cycling for about 1month and some weeks had nitrates abd nitrites both go up then move down so I assumed it was cycled and people were telling me it was ready imo I'm not sure it looks ready but looks c an be deceiving here's a pic of my paremeters today

 

[adrianthetwin]

Nitrites is alot lighter it looks dark in the picture lol

 

[adrianthetwin]

Better picture

 

[fishroomlady]

your nitrites need to be 0 before your cycle is considered finished

 

[adrianthetwin]

They were check it out

 

[adrianthetwin]

Ok I just checked the water parameters right now at 4:20 I think it's going though another cycle lol god **** I'm lost

 

[adrianthetwin]

First one was today around 12:00

 

[adrianthetwin]

Have know idea what's happening I guess i need to go back to the drawing boards

 

[footballdude2k3]

Is that a freshwater test? That might be playing into this, I had one of those give me some messed up readings once.

 

[adrianthetwin]

Yes the only difference is the ph is not on the sw test kit

 

[saltyphish]

you are still cycling for sure but don't get stressed out over it. You can do water changes to keep your nitrites down and help your cuc survive it. It will go down just don't add any more livestock until its done cycling.

 

[Jc_ellis]

How much live rock and sand do you have? Do you have a refugium? Every time you add livestock, the bacteria reacts and multiplies to handle the additional load; if you do not have enough surface area for your biological filter to develop on or you add too much at once, you will start a mini cycle.

 

[adrianthetwin]

I'm just going to wait it out my fish seem to be doing fine and my hermit crabs and snail I just do a small water change to keep nitrites down a bit

 

[neddog]

Like the others said your cycle Isn't finished yet. You need to wait it out and let the cycle finish up. I wouldn't do anymore than a 1/2 gallon water change until things level out

 

[adrianthetwin]

**^^^^ thanks I'll keep you guys posted everything's looking good my nitrites still there I see a little nitrates but not letting the nitrites go down but laura ce is key I'll wait

 

[adrianthetwin]

So came home and same thing nitrites still up and no nitrates yet I don't know what else to do I still have my cleaning crew doing I don't know what but I have nothing growing on the rocks I had an old fish there from the first time I thought it was cycled he's still alive doing well looks like he's healthy to me checked my nitrites and nitrates today nothing's changed I'm just waiting I t out hoping somethings changed before I buy another fish

 

[adrianthetwin]

this was this morning but when I got home to test it out nitrates went back to 0 again so it's just playing with me lol