Third day of cycle should I be worried?

[LilysDad]

Yesterday my nitrite was at zero while ammonia began to spike and now everything spiked even nitrates is this ok?

what about phosphate is that ok?

 

[CanuckReefer]

Yesterday my nitrite was at zero while ammonia began to spike and now everything spiked even nitrates is this ok?

what about phosphate is that ok?

Let it ride.... things are happening, if you are seeing changes day 3 that's a good thing. Sorry about the thumb BTW lol, that looks like it hurt! Been there....

 

[Lavey29]

Yes let it ride are you using dr tims or some other cycle dose?

 

[LilysDad]

Let it ride.... things are happening, if you are seeing changes day 3 that's a good thing. Sorry about the thumb BTW lol, that looks like it hurt! Been there....

Happen 3 months ago scaffolding cross bracing closed in on me buddy of mine let go and couldn’t really see cause we were moving and it was night and very cold... lol not a great feeling

 

[ryshark]

Wow your ammonia is way higher than it needed to be. What did you put in as an ammonia source?

 

[CanuckReefer]

Happen 3 months ago scaffolding cross bracing closed in on me buddy of mine let go and couldn’t really see cause we were moving and it was night and very cold... lol not a great feeling

Youch!!!!

 

[ReefRusty]

Leave it and test on day 10 then 15 and you will see dramatic results. Personally would change test kits. Using live rock or dry?

 

[Gtinnel]

When nitrites are present in the tank you will get a false high reading for nitrate. Don't worry about testing nitrate until your nitrites drop back down.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Your cycling...don't worry... lol
D

 

[LilysDad]

Wow your ammonia is way higher than it needed to be. What did you put in as an ammonia source?

Dr Tim’s

 

[LilysDad]

Leave it and test on day 10 then 15 and you will see dramatic results. Personally would change test kits. Using live rock or dry?

Live rock

 

[CayeCaulker]

Well. I took a little wiz in one of my startup systems years ago. Worked great.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do a 25-35% water change.
One note is you are using API test kits which are notorious for false readings. These values may be off.
Get a second opinion by taking water sample to a trusted LFS that Does NOT use API kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours.
Also if you change water, wait at least 8 hours before testing as you will likely get false readings

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I used to calibrate my refractometer with rodi. Was i shocked when I compared with a lfs I had trusted at the time. Lol.
Cal fluid ever since.
D

 

[ReefRusty]

Live rock

Live rock you should of been ready from day 1. Ammonia source was never needed, and or a bottle of Dr Tim's however would kick it along. I'd use a different test kit.

I'd leave it for now and then on day 15 do as large of a WC you can do and you will. Be ready if you already have cycled live rock in there

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

...if u added live rock to fresh synthetic salt water you will exp a small amount of die off and will exp. A mini cycle imo.
Your tank will cycle faster than you think if u used live rock. Right on. Deff not incentantius ready to go though still imi... Bottle of "bacteria" or what not whatever or not.
-d

 

[LilysDad]

Do a 25-35% water change.
One note is you are using API test kits which are notorious for false readings. These values may be off.
Get a second opinion by taking water sample to a trusted LFS that Does NOT use API kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours.
Also if you change water, wait at least 8 hours before testing as you will likely get false readings

Will be adding a bucket here pretty soon I have a 200g rimless and sump is about to run low will be adding a 5G bucket

 

[LilysDad]

Will be adding a bucket here pretty soon I have a 200g rimless and sump is about to run low will be adding a 5G bucket

Ole lady likes to keep the house like a furnace....

 

[melonheadorion]

as vetteguy said, i would do a water change now, and see where it brings your readings. there are many instances of false readings where high readings in one creates a false reading for the other. on the other hand, you will might see one day where your levels are high, and next day, your ammonia is 0.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As noted above, there's not much reason to test for nitrate now as it is not going to be accurate with any detectable nitrite present.