Nitrogen Cycle!

[John A!10]

Hi I have started cycling my monthly about a month ago. I added some fish food to raise the ammonia then the ammonia turned to nitrites which turned into nitrates but the nitrites just won’t go away! Any suggestions?

 

[theMeat]

Some info on tank, rock, filter/sump, sandbed.
Did you feed once or continuously?

 

[SurfTrack]

Its your job to remove the nitrates.

 

[theMeat]

Its your job to remove the nitrates.

He said nitrites

 

[azbigjohn]

If it is indeed nitrates, then you need to do water changes to remove / reduce the nitrates.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Hi I have started cycling my monthly about a month ago. I added some fish food to raise the ammonia then the ammonia turned to nitrites which turned into nitrates but the nitrites just won’t go away! Any suggestions?

what is your ammonia level?

 

[John A!10]

what is your ammonia level?

0

 

[SurfTrack]

0

What are all your levels?

 

[John A!10]

Talking about nitrites but I think after doing some more research I think that the problem is I stopped feeding the tank to raise ammonia should I do a water change.

 

[John A!10]

Some info on tank, rock, filter/sump, sandbed.
Did you feed once or continuously?

15 gallon tote fro quarantine with small piece of dry rock.

 

[Bos]

Hi I have started cycling my monthly about a month ago. I added some fish food to raise the ammonia then the ammonia turned to nitrites which turned into nitrates but the nitrites just won’t go away! Any suggestions?

Whats your Nitrate now? If it is really high, do a small wc like 10-20% and see.
0 ammonia is good
nitrite is not good as you know so it seems you don't have enough of the specific bacteria

You want 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrite and low-ish Nitrate before you start adding livestock.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

no!

we need to back up here. did you dose your ammonia up to 2-3ppm and maintain at that level?

 

[John A!10]

What are all your levels?

Nitrite of the chart nitrates around 100+

 

[John A!10]

no!

we need to back up here. did you dose your ammonia up to 2-3ppm and maintain at that level?

I added fish food to spike ammonia

 

[John A!10]

Should I keep on ghost feeding

 

[John A!10]

Should I keep on ghost feeding

I mean start

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Should I keep on ghost feeding

to properly cycle a tank you need to dose ammonia up to 2-3ppm and maintain it at that level until it drops to zero within 8-12 hours. if you cycle using any other method you could screw up the cycle, which sounds like your situation.

i would buy some pure ammonia and start the cycle over. do not anything goofy like dead shrimp, food or livestock.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

here’s a good article to read. also, i only trust seachem ammonia badges.


https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/#post-3759102

 

[John A!10]

to properly cycle a tank you need to dose ammonia up to 2-3ppm and maintain it at that level until it drops to zero within 8-12 hours. if you cycle using any other method you could screw up the cycle, which sounds like your situation.

i would buy some pure ammonia and start the cycle over. do not anything goofy like dead shrimp, food or livestock.

Should I do a water change before adding ammonia

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Should I do a water change before adding ammonia

at this point i’m not sure it would make any difference. unless it was a 100% change.