Trouble cycling - nitrite not going down

[mwm5461]

Hey all - I'm looking for some helpful advice on next steps to take in my cycling process, which has been somewhat problematic (this is my first saltwater tank).

I started cycling with the shrimp method on 9/3 and left the shrimp in my Nuvo Peninsula 14 gallon tank for about 3 days. I continued to leave it in because my Seachem Ammonia Alert was continuously reading 0 ammonia. However, when my API test kit came in the mail and I took my first ammonia reading it was off the charts so after some time passed and some reading on forums I completed two 40% water changes to try and bring the ammonia down. After the water changes my ammonia seemed to dip so I was happy but since then I'm consistently getting what seems to be off the charts nitrite readings and my nitrates don't seem to be increasing at all. I've also been using MicroBacter7 throughout the whole process to try to help grow the beneficial bacteria.

Does anyone have some helpful advice on what I should do? I'm now about 3.5 weeks in so am I just being impatient or are my nitrites too high and do I need to keep doing water changes? I appreciate any helpful advice you can provide. In hindsight, I realize the shrimp method isn't the best since it seems it resulted in adding way too much ammonia to my system. I also included an image of my ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings that I've been getting. Let me know if you need any additional details. Thanks!

https://ibb.co/mdfPWp

 

[Mr.Asbury]

What you have so far is what I had in my cycle(other than off the chart ammonia, I dosed ammonia rather than using a shrimp). The bacteria that takes care of ammonia will kick into gear first, and make nitrites. Once nitrites are higher, those bacteria can start to reproduce and lower that number. You still have a little while left in the cycle.

This link is to a great guide on here with setting up your aquarium. Near the bottom, it covers the cycle. You're currently on part 2. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[Daniel91]

Don’t worry, you may just have stalled the cycle by adding too much ammonia. The same happend to me, my nitrite refused to go down, even with ammonia showing almost zero. Then one day, it was all converted.

Just be patient - avoid ammonia source for now.

As a side question, are you cycling with live rock? If dry rock, why not control your ammonia with ammonium chloride?

 

[cracker]

Hello & Welcome MW to R2R ! You dropped into the right place for advice .
3.5 weeks seems like a lot of time. Considering the super high Am levels & how Ya started ot will take some time to balance . I'd think You should sit back & wait . The cycle will work.

 

[mwm5461]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. Looks like I should sit back and wait, which is what I'll do. To answer your question Daniel91, I'm using 10lbs of AquaMaxx Eco-Rock Dry Live Rock. During my initial tank set-up research, it was my understanding that the shrimp method was a hands-off simple cycling method so that was the route I took. I guess at this point I learned I should've cycled the ammonia chloride method to be more precise.

 

[Daniel91]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. Looks like I should sit back and wait, which is what I'll do. To answer your question Daniel91, I'm using 10lbs of AquaMaxx Eco-Rock Dry Live Rock. During my initial tank set-up research, it was my understanding that the shrimp method was a hands-off simple cycling method so that was the route I took. I guess at this point I learned I should've cycled the ammonia chloride method to be more precise.

Both works but with ammonium, you have more control.

Either way relax and wait, you will have a mini ocean up and running in no time.