Tank cycling

[Ernnie18]

Hello! My fish tank has being cycling for over a month. I am using microbacter7 and was ghost feeding. The ammonia levels went high and now drop to 0, the problem i have is that my nitrites are over 5ppm (Using Api to test) and my nitrates are close to 40ppm. Will nitrites drop soon or it might take a little longer? Any help would be great. Also should i keep adding ammonia until nitrites drop to 0 so the bacteria won’t die?

 

[Johnz]

So tests suck, they are notoriously unreliable. If your ammonia has been testing zero, and the tank longer smells like ammonia, you are probably done. A month with starter bacteria should have been enough time. Nitrites fall super quick after the ammonia drops so if you are still seeing them in your tests, it is probably not a true reading. If you want confirmation take a sample to your local fish store or just give it another week to be safe.

That sound high for nitrates this soon. Again could be a test issue, but regardless 40ppm won't keep you from adding a few starter fish and a clean up crew. Start your water changes and if it is really that high, it will start to fall.

I dont think the bacteria will die if you stop feeding. Regardless, once established bacteria will increase in population very fast. No need to keep ghost feeding. Add a couple starter fish and some clean up crew and enjoy the new tank.

 

[Ernnie18]

So tests suck, they are notoriously unreliable. If your ammonia has been testing zero, and the tank longer smells like ammonia, you are probably done. A month with starter bacteria should have been enough time. Nitrites fall super quick after the ammonia drops so if you are still seeing them in your tests, it is probably not a true reading. If you want confirmation take a sample to your local fish store or just give it another week to be safe.

That sound high for nitrates this soon. Again could be a test issue, but regardless 40ppm won't keep you from adding a few starter fish and a clean up crew. Start your water changes and if it is really that high, it will start to fall.

I dont think the bacteria will die if you stop feeding. Regardless, once established bacteria will increase in population very fast. No need to keep ghost feeding. Add a couple starter fish and some clean up crew and enjoy the new tank.

Thanks for taking the time to answer. Will take a sample to my lfs.

 

[Dburr1014]

Hello! My fish tank has being cycling for over a month. I am using microbacter7 and was ghost feeding. The ammonia levels went high and now drop to 0, the problem i have is that my nitrites are over 5ppm (Using Api to test) and my nitrates are close to 40ppm. Will nitrites drop soon or it might take a little longer? Any help would be great. Also should i keep adding ammonia until nitrites drop to 0 so the bacteria won’t die?

Nitrites don't matter.
Cycle is done, do a water change to address nitrates and start adding fish. Slowly.
Happy reefing.

 

[Ernnie18]

Nitrites don't matter.
Cycle is done, do a water change to address nitrates and start adding fish. Slowly.
Happy reefing.

Thanks!

 

[CaseyC33]

Question on this as well... hope you don't mind.

On a small tank (5.5 gallon) is it possible you'll read 1-3ppm nitrite and zero ammonia because you are catching the tank mid cycle?

I tested ammonia in the morning (0) and then fed and decided to test a couple hours after testing and nitrite read 1-3 ppm (nitrates 20pm).

Should I just wait and test in a couple hours to see if nitrite has gone down? Or should I do a water change??

All I have is a pistol shrimp and yasha goby and am definitely not overfeeding, everything gets picked up and the snails come by and eat the rest.

I've kept other nano tanks (29 gal) but have been testing religiously on the 5.5 because I understand the maintenance and water changes can happen very quickly.