lost during cycle

kamuii · 06/14/2017, 01:32 PM

ok.. so i'm still waiting on my nitrItes to come down! but i've looked up to see how long it usually lasts (i'm about a little more than a week in) and some forums said to do a water change? and/or stop dosing ammonia? but i think i ended up kicking myself in the rear end looking it all up rip me.. but i decided to just get the answers myself, so

how long does the nirIte take to come down? i just dosed ammonia to about 5 ppm (by mistake when i meant to add 4) i just decided to post a picture of the test readings.. but i'll also give u numbers just in case u can't see (sorry my picture skills are the worst!! lol)

nitrAtes: 200
nirItes: either over 10.0 or 8.0 i can't tell
alkalinity: 40
pH: 7.4

IMG_8667.jpg

GimpyFin · 06/14/2017, 01:57 PM

Sounds like your tank is still in the midst of cycling, and you'll just want to wait and keep watching it. Nitrite can throw off the Nitrate test and make it look unusually high. Once you have a steady reading of 0 for ammonia and nitrite, but have readings for nitrate, you should be cycled.

thegrun · 06/14/2017, 03:33 PM

You should definitely stop dosing ammonia, dose it one time to get your ammonia to the 2ppm level and that is all you ever need. I would not make a water change unless your ammonia is at or over 8ppm, as that will slow down a cycle considerably. As to how long your cycle will take there are just too many variables, but 4-6 weeks is the usual duration.

mcgyvr · 06/14/2017, 06:09 PM

Holy cow... Where are people getting their cycling instructions from? I've seen a bunch of people go way overboard like that..

IMO.. You should just start doing a crap load of water changes to fix what you have done.. Specifically to get that nitrate down.. Who cares about potentially prolonging a cycle by a minuscule amount.. That nitrate is ridiculous because of all that ammonia.. .

Nitrates 200+ WOW.. good luck with that..
Alk 40ppm? What? Why so low?
PH low too..

kamuii · 06/14/2017, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Holy cow... Where are people getting their cycling instructions from? I've seen a bunch of people go way overboard like that..

IMO.. You should just start doing a crap load of water changes to fix what you have done.. Specifically to get that nitrate down.. Who cares about potentially prolonging a cycle by a minuscule amount.. That nitrate is ridiculous because of all that ammonia.. .

Nitrates 200+ WOW.. good luck with that..
Alk 40ppm? What? Why so low?
PH low too..

i have no idea if it's my test kit or what? my alkalinity was good until maybe about two weeks ago.. and my ph has been a low since a few weeks now.. i just figured it was all apart of the process and it'll fix when i do my water change.. and how much should water should i remove? im going to say from how much i have it won't be out in one go.. should i start by doing 40 percent every 4-5 days?

kamuii · 06/14/2017, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamuii

i have no idea if it's my test kit or what? my alkalinity was good until maybe about two weeks ago.. and my ph has been a low since a few weeks now.. i just figured it was all apart of the process and it'll fix when i do my water change.. and how much should water should i remove? im going to say from how much i have it won't be out in one go.. should i start by doing 40 percent every 4-5 days?

also keep dosing ammonia or to continue regularly? aahhh!!

smallreef · 06/14/2017, 11:51 PM

take out the water put new water in. Add Dr Tims and one only. Immediately add couple small fish and go slow with adding more.

mcgyvr · 06/15/2017, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamuii

also keep dosing ammonia or to continue regularly? aahhh!!

DO NOT ADD ANY MORE AMMONIA..

Do a couple 50% water changes to get nitrates below 100 for sure (below 50 is better).. Then wait until nitrites and ammonia is zero...
Tank is then cycled..
Then perform more water changes to get nitrates to an acceptable level (less than 10 is a good start)..

kamuii · 06/15/2017, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

DO NOT ADD ANY MORE AMMONIA..

Do a couple 50% water changes to get nitrates below 100 for sure (below 50 is better).. Then wait until nitrites and ammonia is zero...

Tank is then cycled..

Then perform more water changes to get nitrates to an acceptable level (less than 10 is a good start)..

ok! thanks for all the info, i really appreciate the help, i'm gonna do about a 50%-60% water change today and keep an eye on my nitrItes and nitrAtes..

06/14/2017, 01:32 PM	#1
kamuii Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 50	lost during cycle ok.. so i'm still waiting on my nitrItes to come down! but i've looked up to see how long it usually lasts (i'm about a little more than a week in) and some forums said to do a water change? and/or stop dosing ammonia? but i think i ended up kicking myself in the rear end looking it all up rip me.. but i decided to just get the answers myself, so how long does the nirIte take to come down? i just dosed ammonia to about 5 ppm (by mistake when i meant to add 4) i just decided to post a picture of the test readings.. but i'll also give u numbers just in case u can't see (sorry my picture skills are the worst!! lol) nitrAtes: 200 nirItes: either over 10.0 or 8.0 i can't tell alkalinity: 40 pH: 7.4 IMG_8667.jpg

06/14/2017, 01:57 PM	#2
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	Sounds like your tank is still in the midst of cycling, and you'll just want to wait and keep watching it. Nitrite can throw off the Nitrate test and make it look unusually high. Once you have a steady reading of 0 for ammonia and nitrite, but have readings for nitrate, you should be cycled. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 110 gallon

06/14/2017, 06:09 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Holy cow... Where are people getting their cycling instructions from? I've seen a bunch of people go way overboard like that.. IMO.. You should just start doing a crap load of water changes to fix what you have done.. Specifically to get that nitrate down.. Who cares about potentially prolonging a cycle by a minuscule amount.. That nitrate is ridiculous because of all that ammonia.. . Nitrates 200+ WOW.. good luck with that.. Alk 40ppm? What? Why so low? PH low too.. __________________ Who me?

06/14/2017, 03:33 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You should definitely stop dosing ammonia, dose it one time to get your ammonia to the 2ppm level and that is all you ever need. I would not make a water change unless your ammonia is at or over 8ppm, as that will slow down a cycle considerably. As to how long your cycle will take there are just too many variables, but 4-6 weeks is the usual duration.

06/14/2017, 11:51 PM	#7
smallreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 534	take out the water put new water in. Add Dr Tims and one only. Immediately add couple small fish and go slow with adding more.