When will I see Nitrites/Nitrates

J

JohnGivens

AC Members
Dec 20, 2004
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0
Washington
Hello Everyone,

I am on day nine of cycling my new 37 gallon setup. Today's Chemistries are: pH 7.4 Ammonia 1.0 Nitite 0 and Nitrate 0. Any ideas on how long until I see the Nitrate/Nitrate levels spike ? I am getting ready to do a 20 gallon water change because I hate the ammonia level to get above 0.5. :p
 
I am not an expert but I did experience no nitrites w/such big water changes. My ammonia went up to 4.0 suddenly one day after no water changes for 3 days. I did a 25% water change and it went down to 2.0. Then the nitrites showed up. Hooray! now the ammonia has declined to .50 in few days and the nitrites are at 2.0 and now I have nitrAtes of 5.0.

It is kind of scary but I have kept and close eye on the fish and so far so good.

This is just my experience I wanted to share. Keep up w/what you are doing until more of an expert can chime in. I wouldn't want you to do something like I did and run into troubles in your tank. Wow now that would be guilt for me.

Thanks and good luck to you. Sorry to be so wishy washy!
 
When ammonia starts declining on it's own, you'll see nitrites showing up. The water changes will be a good thing for the fish in there, and won't slow the cycle down--the bacteria will continue to reproduce happily either way. Did you seed the tank from the 29?
 
Hi Oriongirl,

Good to get more advice from you. I initially intended to do a fishless cycle as I messed up my chemistries on the 29 gallon tank by changing the filter
and packet and washing out my filter. The 29 gallon is now fully cycled again thank god after 9 days pH 7.2 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 and Nitrate 10. Do you think it is okay after the 20 gallon water exchange to float my biowheel from the 29 gallon for a few hours? Thanks for your quick responses greenday and Oriongirl. I was really pondering whether or not I was doint the right thing.

JohnG
 
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