Nitrites not dropping

[cathrynlisa]

Hi,

I'm running a fishless cycle and for 2 weeks now I have been dosing up to 3ppm ammonia (daily) and it has been gone the next day, but my nitrites don't seem to be dropping at all. I've tried increasing the temp and using Nutrafin Cycle to speed things up. The article which I've based my cycling said this would go on for 7-14 days. Is there anything else I should or shouldn't be doing? Or am I just being impatient? I was wondering about water changes?

 

[budrecki]

Patience! A full "cycle' can take 6 weeks. The recommended ammonia level is 5ppm.

http://aquariumboard.com/forums/articles/26-cycling-tank-fw.html

Try uping the ammonia to 5, don't play with the water temp, and don't do a water change.

Remember, a watched tank never cycles :duh:

 

[cathrynlisa]

OK, will try. Shall I turn the temp back down or leave it?

 

[budrecki]

what is the temp?

 

[cathrynlisa]

I had it set originally at 74, but I whacked it up to 82 after I read somewhere that it might speed up the bacteria growth

 

[budrecki]

78-82 is just fine.

 

[cathrynlisa]

By the way, I didn't mean it had only been cycling for 2 weeks, I mean it has been on this stage for 2 weeks

 

[budrecki]

Patience grasshopper!

 

[cathrynlisa]

I know, I know......want fishies <)))<

 

[amyandlars]

I know the feeling of wanting the cycle to hurry up. I'm on the first stage of the ammonia cycle, and have yet to see a single nitrite. I started looking around the house for aquariums that have nitrite, but they are all testing at 0 ATM. Dang it