Nitrites

[britnicole1724]

So we’ve been cycling our tank for about a week. Our nitrites and nitrates seem to be through the roof with our ammonia being 0. At this point do we let it go without dosing more ammonia until nitrites reach 0? I’d hate to dose more ammonia for nitrites to keep rising and not fall?? My boyfriend did a 10% water change today as well. This is after the water change.

Edit - We are cycling with Fritz Turbo 900

 

[MaxTremors]

I would wait to add any more ammonia until nitrites hit zero (or close to). Then add enough ammonia to make it 2ppm and if it’s processed within 24 hours, your good to add your first fish.

 

[britnicole1724]

I would wait to add any more ammonia until nitrites hit zero (or close to). Then add enough ammonia to make it 2ppm and if it’s processed within 24 hours, your good to add your first fish.

No water change?

 

[Dan_P]

So we’ve been cycling our tank for about a week. Our nitrites and nitrates seem to be through the roof with our ammonia being 0. At this point do we let it go without dosing more ammonia until nitrites reach 0? I’d hate to dose more ammonia for nitrites to keep rising and not fall?? My boyfriend did a 10% water change today as well. This is after the water change.

Edit - We are cycling with Fritz Turbo 900

Nitrites take awhile to come down. In saltwater nitrites do not pose the problem they do in freshwater. I recently asked @brandon429 why people add a second dose of ammonia when the first dose was properly consumed, proving the presence of ammonia oxidizing bacteria.

 

[britnicole1724]

Nitrites take awhile to come down. In saltwater nitrites do not pose the problem they do in freshwater. I recently asked @brandon429 why people add a second dose of ammonia when the first dose was properly consumed, proving the presence of ammonia oxidizing bacteria.

It wasn’t consumed in 24 hours so that’s sort of why I’m hesitant to do anything with the fish. But I also don’t want to add more ammonia if it’s going to continue to make our nitrites rise.
Not sure it’s anything a water change would fix?

 

[MaxTremors]

Nitrites take awhile to come down. In saltwater nitrites do not pose the problem they do in freshwater. I recently asked @brandon429 why people add a second dose of ammonia when the first dose was properly consumed, proving the presence of ammonia oxidizing bacteria.

The reason for a second dose is just to double check and/or make sure it’s processed within 24 hours.

 

[Dan_P]

The reason for a second dose is just to double check and/or make sure it’s processed within 24 hours.

Got it. Thanks.

 

[Dan_P]

It wasn’t consumed in 24 hours so that’s sort of why I’m hesitant to do anything with the fish. But I also don’t want to add more ammonia if it’s going to continue to make our nitrites rise.
Not sure it’s anything a water change would fix?

The water change would remove reduce some if nitrite.

Are you anxious to add fish?

 

[britnicole1724]

The water change would remove reduce some if nitrite.

Are you anxious to add fish?

Yes but no. I’m not adding my clowns until it’s safe to. Just don’t want to wait months for nitrite to go down as others have said could happen

 

[Garf]

Yes but no. I’m not adding my clowns until it’s safe to. Just don’t want to wait months for nitrite to go down as others have said could happen

It’s usually done, whatever way you do it, within 3 or 4 weeks. Them folks are just trying to push you into their method by scaring new peeps.

 

[britnicole1724]

It’s usually done, whatever way you do it, within 3 or 4 weeks. Them folks are just trying to push you into their method by scaring new peeps.

Even with Fritz Turbo added? It’s supposed to cycle a tank more quickly than that. Obviously if it takes that long I’ll wait. But I was under the impression it would cycle quicker than that

 

[Garf]

Even with Fritz Turbo added? It’s supposed to cycle a tank more quickly than that. Obviously if it takes that long I’ll wait. But I was under the impression it would cycle quicker than that

Yes, can be quicker on its own, occasionally not. You can also short circuit the cycle by ignoring the NITRITE value, and consequently the NITRATE value. I however prefer the nitrite to come down naturally. Adding a carbon/phosphate source may speed this up.

 

[britnicole1724]

Yes, can be quicker on its own, occasionally not. You can also short circuit the cycle by ignoring the NITRITE value, and consequently the NITRATE value. I however prefer the nitrite to come down naturally. Adding a carbon/phosphate source may speed this up.

We do have carbon we were waiting to put in. I’ll try that. Maybe another water change as nitrate is also really high still. Not sure if that would hurt anything?

 

[Garf]

We do have carbon we were waiting to put in. I’ll try that. Maybe another water change as nitrate is also really high still. Not sure if that would hurt anything?

By carbon source I didn’t mean activated carbon btw. I meant vinegar, crushed flake etc

 

[britnicole1724]

By carbon source I didn’t mean activated carbon btw. I meant vinegar, crushed flake etc

Ahhh. Yeah idk if I want to get into all that being my first tank and not knowing what I’m doing with that

 

[Garf]

Ahhh. Yeah idk if I want to get into all that being my first tank and not knowing what I’m doing with that

Got a pic of the tank? We all like pics

 

[britnicole1724]

Got a pic of the tank? We all like pics

Lights have been off outside of the pic haha

 

[MmeAssoc]

Hi @britnicole1724, I think I'm in a similar position to you (cycling tank; sky-high nitrites), and I found this Dr Tim's video really useful:
In essence, he says that having either nitrites or ammonia higher than 5ppm will inhibit the development of the bacteria that you need. I've been doing water changes to try to bring my nitrites down, based on this.

He also doesn't recommend adding a carbon source, as this will feed a different, competing sort of bacteria. I myself am a brand-new reefer, so can't comment based on personal experience - I'm just trying to follow the tips in the video (lower salinity, higher temperature, ammonia and nitrites <5ppm), and hopefully my tank will cycle soon.

 

[britnicole1724]

Hi @britnicole1724, I think I'm in a similar position to you (cycling tank; sky-high nitrites), and I found this Dr Tim's video really useful:
In essence, he says that having either nitrites or ammonia higher than 5ppm will inhibit the development of the bacteria that you need. I've been doing water changes to try to bring my nitrites down, based on this.

He also doesn't recommend adding a carbon source, as this will feed a different, competing sort of bacteria. I myself am a brand-new reefer, so can't comment based on personal experience - I'm just trying to follow the tips in the video (lower salinity, higher temperature, ammonia and nitrites <5ppm), and hopefully my tank will cycle soon.

I’m not trusting Dr Tim. I got 3 bottles of bacteria and none of them worked. Added Fritz turbo and immediately saw results. Just had a bad experience with it

 

[Dan_P]

Yes but no. I’m not adding my clowns until it’s safe to. Just don’t want to wait months for nitrite to go down as others have said could happen

If you are not going to stock many fish not carelessly feed them, it seems like you do not need to wait much longer. Also, the amount of toxic smmonia in your system is 5-10% of the total ammonia concentration, which is what you measure with ammonia test kits. Keeping the pH at 8 or below will keep the proportion of toxic ammonia lower, a nice insurance policy. You can target the “ perfect“ pH and nitrate level later.