Nitrite and Nitrate

[jayman19]

Hello all,

so my tank has been cycling for near 3 weeks now. At the beginning I think I may have overdosed ammonia chloride, but now it has all converted into nitrite and nitrate. On The API test kit my numbers reach between the bottom 2 colors for each respective test. Ammonia is now near 0 and my ph is around 8-8.2. My question is what do I do now with such high levels of nitrite and nitrate. Should I just do a large water change? And does that mean my tank is fully cycled now?

 

[SchrutesReefs]

If you add ammonia does it read zero within the next 24-48hrs? Also, did you start with rock (dry or live) or sand?

 

[jayman19]

If you add ammonia does it read zero within the next 24-48hrs? Also, did you start with rock (dry or live) or sand?

I haven’t added any more ammonia just because I haven’t wanted to make my nitrite and nitrate levels reach even higher than they currently are. I started with live sand, dry rock, and Dr. Tims

 

[Rmckoy]

I’d do a large water change and test by adding ammonia to see if it can process that in 24 hours .

 

[Rmckoy]

@brandon429
The amount of cycling happening these days could have you typing work threads 24/7

 

[SchrutesReefs]

I haven’t seen @brandon429 lay the facts down in a while. Maybe I’ve been sleeping.

 

[Nonya]

The nitrogen cycle is not complete until ammonia, then nitrites, read zero. Since both are toxic to fish, just be patient. Even then, you can't start dumping corals in the tank, which shouldn't happen before the 4 month point.

 

[Rmckoy]

I haven’t seen @brandon429 lay the facts down in a while. Maybe I’ve been sleeping.

Brandon is in hiding .

i don’t think he is a quitter . He is reading . Probably writing work threads from all the recent cycle question posts .

 

[Nonya]

Brandon is in hiding .

i don’t think he is a quitter . He is reading . Probably writing work threads from all the recent cycle question posts .

Well, in his honor---Let's go, Brandon!

 

[Rmckoy]

Well, in his honor---Let's go, Brandon!

I’ve tried ….

I think the more tagging him . Would either irritate or encourage .

I haven’t read any good banter or engaged in any debates in a long time . @brandon429

we need a few of your challenge posts

a healthy debate Is healthy

 

[Nonya]

I’ve tried ….

I think the more tagging him . Would either irritate or encourage .

I haven’t read any good banter or engaged in any debates in a long time . @brandon429

we need a few of your challenge posts

a healthy debate Is healthy

My challenge posts?

 

[LeftyReefer]

yes, a big water change will get rid of a bunch of those nitrates that resulted from cycling.

 

[Rmckoy]

My challenge posts?

no .

 

[frankny]

Hello all,

so my tank has been cycling for near 3 weeks now. At the beginning I think I may have overdosed ammonia chloride, but now it has all converted into nitrite and nitrate. On The API test kit my numbers reach between the bottom 2 colors for each respective test. Ammonia is now near 0 and my ph is around 8-8.2. My question is what do I do now with such high levels of nitrite and nitrate. Should I just do a large water change? And does that mean my tank is fully cycled now?

BT7 daily dossing will help, also dr tim's wastes away is good too, they both lower no2 n no3.

 

[Nonya]

BT7 daily dossing will help, also dr tim's wastes away is good too, they both lower no2 n no3.

Waste Away is not normal aquarium bacteria.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Waste Away is not normal aquarium bacteria.

Maybe not, and it may have no use at all, but it does at least claim to lower nitrate.

 

[homer1475]

The nitrogen cycle is not complete until ammonia, then nitrites, read zero. Since both are toxic to fish, just be patient. Even then, you can't start dumping corals in the tank, which shouldn't happen before the 4 month point.

While you are technically correct......

At the levels we see cycling a tank, nitrites are not a concern to fish, and fish can be added once ammonia levels clear.

 

[homer1475]

Maybe not, and it may have no use at all, but it does at least claim to lower nitrate.

And vibrant claimed to be bacteria too.

 

[Rmckoy]

And vibrant claimed to be bacteria too.

While another thread claims vibrant contains some sort of algicide

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While another thread claims vibrant contains some sort of algicide

That was his point: they claimed something that wasn't true.

I think it unlikely that Tim Hovanec is making a similar mistake, however.