Sounds like you've got it right. Just keep testing your ammonia levels and do NOT add anymore ammonia until the NH3 levels in your tank reach 2ppm, then add another tsp and retest. Wait 24 hours and retest again.
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- Thread starter Beeker
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That sounds about right Beeker. The nitrites will keep rising, and you just keep dosing ammonia up to 5ppm. Once the nitrite gets high, it will start coming down again and you shouls start reading nitrates. The nitrates will continue to rise and nitrites continue to fall, all the while, you are feeding ammonia to get the tank to 5ppm everyday. After a while, ammonia and nitrites will show zero and there will be nitrates present. At this point, add ammonia to 5ppm again, wait 24 hours adn test the water. If ammonia and nitrites go abck to zero in 24 hours, your tank is cycled. After that, it's a large water change to bring the nitrates down and time to pick out your fish.
It has been 24 hrs since the addition of ammonia and the test of 5. I just tested and the ammonia was 0 and the Nitrites are high. I just added another tsp of ammonia to bring it back up to 5. We'll see in another 24 hrs. I guess. My test kit doesn't have a Nitrate test. I'll have to go get one.
There is no way of predicting, Beeker. I read recently from someone here in a post that they felt the nitrites took twice as long as the ammonia hitting zero. Just hang in there and keep testing and dosing.
