Potential stuck cycle

[Freenow54]

Thanks! I used Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride along with his One and Only. @brandon429 please help!! Am I ok to do 40% water changes to kick the nitrates back and test in between each one? How will I know when my cycle is complete if i do the water changes?

I never did water changes, and everything fell in line but took 7 weeks. Are you running a skimmer?

 

[Cell]

How to unstick any seemingly stuck cycle

Only need to do as big as you can, I was able to get water deliever very cheap so hence the 99% water change. It's mainly to bring your nitrates down, if I was you I would do a 60gal WC and you be right

www.reef2reef.com

 

[arking_mark]

Hello,

I'm currently on day 13 of Dr. Tim's cycle and have been following his schedule for starting my cycle. I've dosed his ammonium chloride on his designated days, and dosed my 200 gallon tank with his One and Only on day 1 and another day on day 10 after email dissuasions with his team. My tank is currently at .25 ammonia, .1 nitrite, 100 nitrates, 7.8 pH (all with Salifert tests) and is kept at 84 degrees (per Dr. Tim's instructions).

I'm not sure why my ammonia or nitrites are at 0 yet, but I wanted to perform 2 40% water changes to at least bring down the nitrates to a tolerable level. My concern is that if I do that large of a water change (taking water from the water column and not disturbing the sand) that I'd disrupt the cycle.

How can I get my ammonia and nitrites to 0 so I can start adding my first fish (clownfish) to the tank? Is my cycle stuck, and if so how do I get it going again? I heard that I'm not supposed to (Dr. Tim says to avoid it) and i've heard that it can really mess up chemistry in the tank.

Please help this new reefer enjoy some fish in his new tank soon!

A couple thoughts:

• Your cycle is most likely done and I suspect your measurements are just off due to our hobby-grade kits. Many kits often show 0.25 ammonia when it's zero.
• Water changes won't hurt the cycle at this point as your biofilm is clearly working. It's a great way to reduce your nitrates.
• I almost never worry about nitrites as they aren't typically harmful at those levels.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello,

I'm currently on day 13 of Dr. Tim's cycle and have been following his schedule for starting my cycle. I've dosed his ammonium chloride on his designated days, and dosed my 200 gallon tank with his One and Only on day 1 and another day on day 10 after email dissuasions with his team. My tank is currently at .25 ammonia, .1 nitrite, 100 nitrates, 7.8 pH (all with Salifert tests) and is kept at 84 degrees (per Dr. Tim's instructions).

I'm not sure why my ammonia or nitrites are at 0 yet, but I wanted to perform 2 40% water changes to at least bring down the nitrates to a tolerable level. My concern is that if I do that large of a water change (taking water from the water column and not disturbing the sand) that I'd disrupt the cycle.

How can I get my ammonia and nitrites to 0 so I can start adding my first fish (clownfish) to the tank? Is my cycle stuck, and if so how do I get it going again? I heard that I'm not supposed to (Dr. Tim says to avoid it) and i've heard that it can really mess up chemistry in the tank.

Please help this new reefer enjoy some fish in his new tank soon!

The 0.25 ppm is likely 0 ppm. The nitrites don’t matter in saltwater.

 

[ajtomase]

This whole "cycle stuck" to me seems like an old wives tale that people keep perpetuating. 100 nitrate sounds like something is working. And if it's an API ammonia kit, that thing has all kinds of doubt around it.

Testing with all Salifert tests

 

[ajtomase]

I never did water changes, and everything fell in line but took 7 weeks. Are you running a skimmer?

Lights, skimmer, socks are all out. Skimmer is mainly off because I'm waiting for a stand to boost its height in the sump.

 

[stylolvr]

I agree that your cycle is most likely finished. Water change to reduce nitrate, then you could either dose a little ammonia as was mentioned previously to make sure it is converted if you don't feel comfortable with adding livestock, or if you are, start with a couple of fish (the clowns you list in your build thread are always a hardy option, especially tank-bred) and monitor. Patience is key, but looks like you've gotten yourself set up for success!

 

[Freenow54]

Lights, skimmer, socks are all out. Skimmer is mainly off because I'm waiting for a stand to boost its height in the sump.

Anything will do. I use a plastic tote used for small parts etc. If you get it going your Nitrates will fall in line. Still dont like water change idea unless you cant get the sump going

 

[1ocean]

I live in Arizona (Chandler). My system is in 2 parts and part 1 has sediment filter, 2 carbon filters, 2 RO membranes. Part 2 is the cation resin, an anion resin, and a mixed bed resin. Before flushing the system my TDS meter 200-250ish after part 1, after flushing, it goes down to about 17ish TDS before it does goes into the 3 resin canisters. Still getting 0 TDS as the end product.

hi ajtomase, I live on the Chandler/Gilbert border..we are close....

 

[underthereef]

The 0.25 ppm is likely 0 ppm. The nitrites don’t matter in saltwater.

Why do nitrites not matter in saltwater? I'm having trouble cycling my quarantine tank. Stuck with nitrites not processing to nitrates. I just posted a new thread on this issue I'm having.

For the details: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/quarantine-tank-cycling-problems.898802/

 

[Freenow54]

Nitrites do matter. If you don't have rock then I am surprised you have nitrites at all must be a false reading. Assuming the opposite if you do have rock in it then it will eventually. Then you don't have a quarantine tank. a quarantine tank is bare, and you have to do water changes to reduce ammonia. The idea is that you can clean the tank easily between quarantines

 

[aSaltyKlown]

Why do nitrites not matter in saltwater?

They are part of the cycle but are not toxic to marine fish at the levels seen in our tanks. Not being toxic is why you will see people say they do not matter.

Take a look at this

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why do nitrites not matter in saltwater? I'm having trouble cycling my quarantine tank. Stuck with nitrites not processing to nitrates. I just posted a new thread on this issue I'm having.

For the details: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/quarantine-tank-cycling-problems.898802/

Because they are not toxic at levels folks attain. Folks worrying about them are carrying it over from freshwater, where they are toxic,

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Nitrites do matter.

Why do you believe that?