Time for water change?

midlife-reefer · Oct 23, 2019

This is my first time ever cycling a tank. I started on 10/13, using Dr. Tim's and ammonia drops for my IM Nuvo SR-60. Day 2 ammonia spiked to 6 ppm w/0 nitrites and 2 ppm nitrates. On day 5, ammonia dropped to 1 ppm, nitrite at .25 and nitrate at 25 ppm. Day 7, ammonia down to 0, nitrite to 4 ppm and nitrates down to 10 ppm. It is now day 10: ammonia is 0, nitrite still at 4 ppm and nitrate still at 10 ppm. Did something stall in this process? Should I do a water change? If so, how much of a water change? Or, do I keep waiting it out b/c this is the process? I thought the nitrite should be decreasing after 4 days at 4 ppm. I will also say the tank has been cycling without any lights other than ambient. I appreciate the help!

DzidtheReefer · Oct 23, 2019

I would just wait it out until ur only seeing nitrates. And as for a water change, 10gals would be ideal

Dierks · Oct 23, 2019

I also agree that we want to see those nitrites go down to zero. You are making all the right moves, we just have to wait as nature does its thing! You are close, but not quite there yet.

KrisReef · Oct 23, 2019

The tests don't seem to be very accurate unless you did a water change to remove nitrates between day 5 and day 7 tests. Get a second opinion, but I'd add more ammonia and wait for nitrites to go to zero , (along with ammonia) before I called the cycle finished.

If you do a water change you remove the food source for the bacteria you are trying to grow. GL

Sparkymarc · Oct 23, 2019

+1 on adding more ammonia and no water change. I wouldn’t do more than 2ppm. Nitrite cycle takes a little longer. You’re almost there!

AdamB · Oct 23, 2019

You can just wait it out . I have cycled with Dr Tim’s and I was somewhat impatient waiting on nitrites to go down but I found out it takes a little while Longer for that to happen. Ammonia to nitrites always processes quicker .
once your nitrites are at 0 along with ammonia do a full dose and wait 24 hrs to see if cycled. If both at 0 at end of 24 then your cycled . Do a water change to remove nitrates and you are ready to roll.

midlife-reefer · Oct 23, 2019

This morning, I added about 2 ppm worth of ammonia drops. For my 60 gallon tank, I was supposed to add 4 drops/gallon, which was 240 drops when I first started the cycle. It spiked to 6 ppm ammonia. So, I deduced 80 drops (1/3 of recommended dosage) will get me to 2 ppm ammonia. I didn't have time to sit there and test the ammonia before work, so hopefully this works out and I'll see the ammonia when I get home. Then, it looks like it's just a waiting game now. Thanks for the help.