Water change with freshwater

[nkdnko]

Hey everyone, I’m not new to salt water tanks but I’ve recently started one up after a 2 year hiatus.

My tank has been fishless cycling for 3 weeks and it started off normal. I’ve been using dr Tim’s ammonia along with bottled bac. My ammonia spiked and then nitrite spiked and then ammonia has gone down to zero.

ive been stuck for 3 weeks with my nitrites off the charts. I’ve diluted the test water with RODI water by half, quarters and eighths and only when it was in the eights was I able to get a reading that wasn’t off the charts.

i did a 95% water change and even after they my nitrites were off the chart. I did a half dilution and got a reading so it definitely lowered the nitrite but not enough.

I’m now considering doing another 95% water change but I’m just burning through cash on all the salt I’m using.

im wondering if I could try empty the tank, fill with fresh water, empty is again and then refill with salt water. Im thinking that will dilute the nitrites enough to essentially get to a non crazy high level.

Would the 10 mins of freshwater filled tank kill off all the beneficial bacteria and cause my cycle to restart?

 

[AZ_Reef]

No water change is needed. You tank is still cycling so nitrite is normal. You can use Dr Tim’s one and only if you want to speed up the cycling. Yo water change will make it longer.

 

[OrionN]

10 mins of fresh water, especially chlorinated water would kill a lot of things. I would not recommenced it.
Just be patient. Nitrites will turn to nitrates given a little time. it is all depends on how much ammonia you added.

 

[nkdnko]

10 mins of fresh water, especially chlorinated water would kill a lot of things. I would not recommenced it.
Just be patient. Nitrites will turn to nitrates given a little time. it is all depends on how much ammonia you added.

So when I put the very first dose of ammonia in, it kind of squirted out of the bottle instead so I had to guess that it was about 10 drops or so and then put the remaining. I think this might’ve the reason that the nitrites are going sky high.

It’s just that the fact that a 95% water change and refill still had off the chart readings, and without adding more ammonia, my nitrites are still going even higher makes me feel like something is extremely wrong. I’ve never had this scenario in a tank.

I’m kind of thinking of somehow completely restarting the cycle.

im happy to sit and wait another week or two or three but I just want to correct any mistakes I’ve potentially made.

 

[count krunk]

how much rock do you have in the tank? was it dry rock? just wait and let the cycle cycle

 

[OrionN]

How big is your tank? What kind of sand? what kind of rock? How much ammonia did you added? How much bacterial did you added?
Lets start with this and go from there. I never cycle with ammonia or bacterial culture. I always use sand, seeded with some live sand, and use Live Rock and just let it sit. I plan that if the ammonia is too high, I do water change, but never have to do this. My LR always were good since I get all my liverock seeded in the Corpus Christi Bay and directly into my tank. I do realize that not too many reefer get to do things like I do.

 

[New&no clue]

I would suggest getting a second opinion on your test. Either a different test kit, or take to the LFS and have them test.

 

[MightyMO]

I'd leave it alone... Possibly add some more cycle product to it to boost the nitrite to nitrate cycle...

 

[mfinn]

I might be tempted to add more Dr. Tim's one and only( might speed things up a little), but it's not really needed.
Things like this happen when you don't measure things.

 

[Reef.]

I would wait, you are going to have to change the water when the nitrates hi anyway.