Question about fishless cycling...

[alieliza]

I am doing a fishless cycle.
I am in the second stage, where the nitrites are very high. They are currently between 2-5 ppm (I am using a liquid test kit). The ammonia keeps dropping down to 0. Should I continue to add ammonia?

Im guessing that the cycle will soon be complete. Its been in this stage for about a week.

I can't wait to add fish!

[NeonJulie]

Drop in ammonia every time it gets low, up to 5ppm. When it clears 5ppm in 24 hours and your nitrites are gone, you'll know you can add the whole crop of fish and it can handle it.

I was stuck at the high nitrite stage for at least 3 weeks, but hopefully yours will move along fast. (You had a lot less nitrites than I did. O.O)

[jm1212]

keep up with the ammoina, otherwise the bacteria that eat up the ammoina and create the nitrite as their biproduct will die off.

[ct-death]

/Agree 100% with the above. Keep ammonia up daily (or as needed) until ammonia and nitrItes fall to 0.0 within a day. When the cycle is ready you should find that these levels actually drop off faster than 24 hours.

The ammonia bacteria grow fast compared to the nitrification bacterias FYI.

[Coler]

^ as above...until ammonia and nitrites are dropping to 0 and you see nitrates steadily increasing...then you're cycled :)