I’ve reached zero ammonia three times but since nitrites have remained high I’ve continued to dose NITROCYCLE. I read somewhere that you should bring ammonia back up to one ppm until your biological filter can bring it back to zero in a 24 hour period. Kinda made sense to me and since I‘ve had nitrites anyway I decided to try it. Also, knowing that different bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, than those which convert nitrite to nitrate, I figured the prior needed to be fed while waiting on the latter to do their job. Does this make any sense or am I WAY overthinking it
If you've reached 0 ammonia 3 times you definitely don't need to add any more ammonia (just wait for nitrites to reach 0 too)...I’ve reached zero ammonia three times but since nitrites have remained high I’ve continued to dose NITROCYCLE. I read somewhere that you should bring ammonia back up to one ppm until your biological filter can bring it back to zero in a 24 hour period. Kinda made sense to me and since I‘ve had nitrites anyway I decided to try it. Also, knowing that different bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, than those which convert nitrite to nitrate, I figured the prior needed to be fed while waiting on the latter to do their job. Does this make any sense or am I WAY overthinking it
How quick did ammonia hit each time? How high is nitrites?I’ve reached zero ammonia three times but since nitrites have remained high I’ve continued to dose NITROCYCLE. I read somewhere that you should bring ammonia back up to one ppm until your biological filter can bring it back to zero in a 24 hour period. Kinda made sense to me and since I‘ve had nitrites anyway I decided to try it. Also, knowing that different bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, than those which convert nitrite to nitrate, I figured the prior needed to be fed while waiting on the latter to do their job. Does this make any sense or am I WAY overthinking it
Actually today is day 21. After bringing ammonia up to 1ppm it takes 4-5 days for it to return to zero. If I didn’t say so before, this is a Waterbox 180.5 with approximately 150gal of water, 80lbs of Arag-Alive sand, 100lbs Caribsea LifeRock and 24-2” Marinepure cubes in the sump. (If any of that matters).
Just to update. Turns out those readings were legitimate. After ammonia and nitrite were gone nitrates remained OFF THE CHARTS. Apparently all the NITROCYLCLE I was dosing was being converted to nitrates. Near 100% water change brought levels down to 10% where they have remained.
