Cycle Question

[camps23]

Hey Guys,
Even though this is the 4th tank I have done a fishless cycle on I always still end up confused...
So tank was setup on March 13th....added Ammonia to 3ppm on Sunday March 15. Added a small bag of sand and water from Spyd and a bottle of Dr. Tims to help seed on the 15th as well. Finally this week my ammonia started to go down. Tested tonight and ammonia is around .5ppm but my nitrites are still sky high around 20ppm. Do I need to add ammonia to bring back up to 3ppm again or do I need to wait for nitrites to come down ?

 

[AdInfinitum]

Not an expert on the fishless thing but it would seem that you should continue to provide ammonia as a food source for your growing culture of Nitrosomona while waiting for your culture of Nitrobacter to catch up and be sufficient to metabolize the nitrites being produced. The greater the food supply, the larger the culture will develop and maintaining a set concentration will become geometrically more difficult.

 

[camps23]

I think I will bring the ammonia back up to 1-2ppm tomorrow and keep an eye on my nitrites to start dropping as well in the next few weeks

 

[yveterinarian]

Definitely add ammonia. Best to add enough to bring it up to 2 ppm. Anytime the ammonia goes down to zero you need to add more to keep the bacteria alive. The nitrites will continue coming down as it cycles. When your ammonia clears 2 ppm in 12-24 hours then do your large water change and it will be ready for livestock.

 

[camps23]

Hey guys...
Now my Ammonia is clearing with 24hrs but nitrites are still at 20ppm and nitrates are at 50ppm ?
What should I be doing now ?

 

[camps23]

Also starting to get a small diatom bloom. Have just started skimmer and havent ran lights the entire cycle so far

 

[AdInfinitum]

Diatoms will bloom until the supply of free silicates from rock and substrate is exhausted then as long as your source water is clean they will subside.

Yvette had it right on clearing ammonia....nitrite itself has relatively low toxicity to fish in saltwater...a big WC and go with fish stocking...slowly of course...

 

[yveterinarian]

Anytime I have done the ammonia cycling of my tanks I have continued adding ammonia until the nitrites come down to Zero as well then I have done the large water change to bring the nitrate levels down. Diatoms are a normal part of new tanks so I'm not surprised you are seeing some.

 

[camps23]

Great Thanks guys....

 

[4Hummer]

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/

 

[Jewel]

Funny that you had anything noticeable after the Dr Tims, but in either case I'd give it more time and keep testing. Should be good in two weeks

 

[Nonuser]

You could get some cleaning crew. Snails, couple tiny hermit crabs.