Fishless cycle

noplay180 · 05/09/2015, 08:38 PM

I have been cycling my tank for about 15 days now using ammonia. I have test results of ammonia .05 and nitrate 5 but have not saw nitrite. any ideas

ucdcrew · 05/09/2015, 08:40 PM

dry or live rock?

noplay180 · 05/09/2015, 08:47 PM

live rock

jminick2 · 05/09/2015, 09:18 PM

well that's impossible sooo test error. You simply cannot get nitrates with out nitrites being present at one time.

noplay180 · 05/09/2015, 09:20 PM

I will purchase a new kit Monday

ucdcrew · 05/09/2015, 09:34 PM

If you still have ammonia reading, its not done. I thought I missed the nitrite spike. Then it showed up and hung around for a long time.

noplay180 · 05/09/2015, 09:40 PM

Yes the ammonia had decreased but not getting a nitrite reading yet

CStrickland · 05/09/2015, 10:42 PM

How high did you get the ammonia before it came down to .05?

noplay180 · 05/10/2015, 05:24 AM

3ppm

noplay180 · 05/26/2015, 09:24 PM

still no nitrite ughh

Azedenkae · 05/27/2015, 02:14 AM

Don't need to necessarily see nitrite. There are a number of reasons. For example, if you have way more nitrite-reducing bacteria than ammonia-reducing bacteria. I am not saying that is definitely the case, but it's quite common. So don't be so surprised.

JMorris271 · 05/27/2015, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azedenkae

Don't need to necessarily see nitrite. There are a number of reasons. For example, if you have way more nitrite-reducing bacteria than ammonia-reducing bacteria. I am not saying that is definitely the case, but it's quite common. So don't be so surprised.

I did not know there was a difference.

Azedenkae · 05/27/2015, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMorris271

I did not know there was a difference.

Sorry I am a bit unsure as to what you are saying. Are you saying that there is no different between ammonia-reducing and nitrite-reducing bacteria?

noplay180 · 05/27/2015, 05:55 PM

Should I do a water change

CStrickland · 05/27/2015, 06:01 PM

Nitrite is a step in between ammonia and nitrate. If you have a strong bacteria population you could be missing it on the test because it is passing that step fast. If you want to be sure you could add food or ammonia to raise the ammonia level again to be sure that the bacteria can turn it into nitrates fast enough. The important thing is that you are doing your tests right and ammonia from fish pee and stuff is not hanging around in the water to hurt them. Once that happens, your cycle is done.
I don't think a water change will make much difference.

youcallmenny · 05/27/2015, 06:10 PM

What brand test kit? I've had problems with the API nitrite test in particular. If you have ammonia just wait until it goes away and you only have nitrates. Seachem stability will help a ton too.

noplay180 · 05/27/2015, 06:12 PM

I have an Api test kit. Ammonia is still present about 0.25- .050

CStrickland · 05/27/2015, 06:24 PM

Do you mean .5 ? My api doesn't go down to .05, it's a big difference.

noplay180 · 05/27/2015, 06:36 PM

.50 sorry

noplay180 · 05/27/2015, 06:37 PM

Nitrate 40ppm

noplay180 · 05/27/2015, 06:52 PM

bnumair · 05/27/2015, 07:01 PM

its possible you might have gotten enough bacteria on the live rock for it to convert nitrites to nitrates and thats why you are not seeing any. other thing like mentioned before could be faulty test kit or human error.
either way nitrites dont really hurt lives stock in saltwater unless in large quantities (over 250ppm) i wouldnt worry about the cycle as long as ammonia goes back to 0.

noplay180 · 05/27/2015, 07:11 PM

Thanks I will wait for ammonia to drop to zero

youcallmenny · 05/28/2015, 07:43 AM

Red Sea makes really accurate test kits if that helps. My other concern is 40 ppm on nitrates. What was your max ammonia level? When i cycled my 75 i added enough ammonia to get to 4.0-5.0 And then let it be until ammonia hit zero. I did a 30% at that point to drop nitrates. Once nitrates were <5 i slowly added my CUC.

noplay180 · 05/28/2015, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youcallmenny

Red Sea makes really accurate test kits if that helps. My other concern is 40 ppm on nitrates. What was your max ammonia level? When i cycled my 75 i added enough ammonia to get to 4.0-5.0 And then let it be until ammonia hit zero. I did a 30% at that point to drop nitrates. Once nitrates were <5 i slowly added my CUC.

Max ammonia was about the same as yours 4.0-5.0

05/09/2015, 08:38 PM	#1
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	Fishless cycle I have been cycling my tank for about 15 days now using ammonia. I have test results of ammonia .05 and nitrate 5 but have not saw nitrite. any ideas

05/09/2015, 08:40 PM	#2
ucdcrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 563	dry or live rock? __________________ If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable! Current Tank Info: 25g nano, working on new 65g

05/09/2015, 09:34 PM	#6
ucdcrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 563	If you still have ammonia reading, its not done. I thought I missed the nitrite spike. Then it showed up and hung around for a long time. __________________ If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable! Current Tank Info: 25g nano, working on new 65g

05/27/2015, 06:01 PM	#15
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Nitrite is a step in between ammonia and nitrate. If you have a strong bacteria population you could be missing it on the test because it is passing that step fast. If you want to be sure you could add food or ammonia to raise the ammonia level again to be sure that the bacteria can turn it into nitrates fast enough. The important thing is that you are doing your tests right and ammonia from fish pee and stuff is not hanging around in the water to hurt them. Once that happens, your cycle is done. I don't think a water change will make much difference. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

05/27/2015, 06:24 PM	#18
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Do you mean .5 ? My api doesn't go down to .05, it's a big difference. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

05/09/2015, 08:47 PM	#3
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	live rock

05/09/2015, 09:18 PM	#4
jminick2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,226	well that's impossible sooo test error. You simply cannot get nitrates with out nitrites being present at one time.

05/09/2015, 09:20 PM	#5
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	I will purchase a new kit Monday

05/09/2015, 09:40 PM	#7
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	Yes the ammonia had decreased but not getting a nitrite reading yet

05/09/2015, 10:42 PM	#8
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	How high did you get the ammonia before it came down to .05?

05/10/2015, 05:24 AM	#9
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	3ppm

05/26/2015, 09:24 PM	#10
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	still no nitrite ughh

05/27/2015, 02:14 AM	#11
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	Don't need to necessarily see nitrite. There are a number of reasons. For example, if you have way more nitrite-reducing bacteria than ammonia-reducing bacteria. I am not saying that is definitely the case, but it's quite common. So don't be so surprised.

05/27/2015, 05:55 PM	#14
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	Should I do a water change

05/27/2015, 06:10 PM	#16
youcallmenny Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 65	What brand test kit? I've had problems with the API nitrite test in particular. If you have ammonia just wait until it goes away and you only have nitrates. Seachem stability will help a ton too.

05/27/2015, 06:12 PM	#17
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	I have an Api test kit. Ammonia is still present about 0.25- .050

05/27/2015, 06:36 PM	#19
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	.50 sorry

05/27/2015, 06:37 PM	#20
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	Nitrate 40ppm

05/27/2015, 06:52 PM	#21
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225

05/27/2015, 07:01 PM	#22
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	its possible you might have gotten enough bacteria on the live rock for it to convert nitrites to nitrates and thats why you are not seeing any. other thing like mentioned before could be faulty test kit or human error. either way nitrites dont really hurt lives stock in saltwater unless in large quantities (over 250ppm) i wouldnt worry about the cycle as long as ammonia goes back to 0. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

05/27/2015, 07:11 PM	#23
noplay180 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 225	Thanks I will wait for ammonia to drop to zero

05/28/2015, 07:43 AM	#24
youcallmenny Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 65	Red Sea makes really accurate test kits if that helps. My other concern is 40 ppm on nitrates. What was your max ammonia level? When i cycled my 75 i added enough ammonia to get to 4.0-5.0 And then let it be until ammonia hit zero. I did a 30% at that point to drop nitrates. Once nitrates were <5 i slowly added my CUC.