Hello all. Well, I'm not really selling nitrites, but I wish I could...I've got a goldmine on my hands! I'm over 3 weeks into a fishless cycle in a 10G tank. The tank reduces 5ppm ammonia to zero in 36hrs - 48hrs. My nitrite reading has been off the chart for over 2 weeks. I did some reading and it seems that this may be the result of adding to much ammonia at the beginning of the cycle. Anyway, I did a huge (90%) water change to bring down the nitrites. The strange thing is, I tested the water 6hrs later and the nitrites are still off the scale! How can this be? Am I just being too impatient?
Nitrites for sale!
- Thread starter Zonker
- Start date
If your nitrites were off the scale to begin with perhaps they were way off the scale and all you have done is brought them down to just a little over the scale.
Or perhaps your test kit isn't working. If you can take a water sample to the fish store to see if they will test it and compare to your results.
I would reduce the amount of ammonia you are dosing with for the time being. But still keep adding and wait it out. A lot of people find it take 4-5weeks for a full bacterial load so you are right there. It is time to start planning the future tank.
Or perhaps your test kit isn't working. If you can take a water sample to the fish store to see if they will test it and compare to your results.
I would reduce the amount of ammonia you are dosing with for the time being. But still keep adding and wait it out. A lot of people find it take 4-5weeks for a full bacterial load so you are right there. It is time to start planning the future tank.
I am going through a fishless cycle on a 10 gallon quarantine tank as well. I know I found it very hard to even get an estimated ammount of ammonia to add. I kept adding till I got 5ppm but it took a lot of ammonia to get there. My nitrites just spiked my test kit the last day or two. I dropped my ammonia adds way down so hopefully they will handle it on their own. I guess I'll do the water change bit myself if I get the same results. Kyle
Well, it looks like my nitrites are now down to a level I can read. TKOS, I think you hit the nail on the head....I think I just dropped my nitirites from really really high to high with my big water change. I was wondering....how much ammonia should I add to maintain the nitrite producing bacteria without causing another out of control spike? I've been doing a lot of reading about some of the "bacteria in a bottle" type products. It seems that some people have had success with Bio Spira. Is it worth a try?
Thanks
Zonker
Thanks
Zonker
it does appear that bio-spira is awesome but good luck finding it. There is no one in the central Oklahoma area that has any. A few stores said they had some and couldn't get anymore, most won't carry it because it has to be kept frozen or refrigerated. I think you're on the downhill side of cycling anyway so just hold tight. Kyle
Don't bother
Don't bother with the BioSpira, you've gone too far to spend that money now. Once the nitrites start falling , they fall fast.
I read somewhere that the bacteria need 38 days, so you have maybe 10 to 14 days to go depending on exactly when you started.
Don't bother with the BioSpira, you've gone too far to spend that money now. Once the nitrites start falling , they fall fast.
I read somewhere that the bacteria need 38 days, so you have maybe 10 to 14 days to go depending on exactly when you started.