PWC for high nitrites during cycle?

Rangerbob86 · 05/16/2015, 01:57 PM

I realize there are already quite a few threads on this topic and that I’m probably going to get split opinions, but I thought I’d try anyways. My 20 gallon long tank has been cycling for just over 6 weeks now. Tank has a heater, airstone, and Aquaclear 70 HOB filer. All were purchased brand new. The HOB filter has one sponge and one bag of biomax in it (not running the carbon). I started the cycle with a bottle of Dr. Tims One and Only and dosed about 3 - 4 ppm Ace Hardware brand ammonia. After about a week there was no more ammonia so I dosed it back up to 3 - 4 ppm. Ever since then, nitrites have been very high (off the API chart). I continued to dose ammonia to about 2 ppm every few days. Last week, I did my first water change (about 50%) in an effort to bring down the nitrites but didn’t see any results. Here are my parameters today:

API Test:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: > 5 ppm
Nitrate: 80 to 160 ppm
pH: 8.0
Salinity: 1.025
Temp: 79

Seachem Nitrite/Nitrate Test:
Nitrite: 10 to 25 ppm
Nitrate: > 50 ppm

At this point I’m not sure if I should do another water change or give it more time. Should I continue to dose the ammonia? 2 ppm ammonia is being processed in 24 hours. Should I put another sponge/more biomax in the filter in place of the carbon? Any help would be appreciated!

brianr24 · 05/16/2015, 05:07 PM

I went through same issue. Stop dosing ammonia. Add some live rock (seed) and just wait. Once bacteria start breaking down nitrite to nitrate it happens fast.

thegrun · 05/16/2015, 05:09 PM

Stop dosing ammonia! After the initial dose there is no reason to continue dosing it, as all it will do is produce more nitrates (the end product of your nitrate cycle). You are going to get somewhat elevated false nitrate readings as long as you have nitrites in the tank, but I suspect the end result after the cycle is complete will be high nitrates. At this point don't do anything, let nature complete the cycle. After the cycle is complete (the nitrites drop to zero) if your nitrates are still high make a 100% water change and then add your CUC. Biomax or carbon will not lower your nitrates.

Rangerbob86 · 05/17/2015, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the help, I wont dose any more ammonia!

disc1 · 05/17/2015, 01:37 PM

You may not actually have nitrates that high. Nitrite will fool a nitrate test and a little bit of nitrite will show up as a large amount of nitrate.

Rangerbob86 · 06/01/2015, 08:58 PM

Just wanted to give a quick update...it's been over 2 weeks now since I've stopped dosing ammonia, but no noticeable change in nitrite level. It's been just over 8 weeks total for the cycle now. Continue waiting? Or is there something else I can be doing? Thanks!

droog · 06/01/2015, 10:41 PM

How much rock and subtrate is in the tank?

-droog

05/16/2015, 01:57 PM	#1
Rangerbob86 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 59	PWC for high nitrites during cycle? I realize there are already quite a few threads on this topic and that I’m probably going to get split opinions, but I thought I’d try anyways. My 20 gallon long tank has been cycling for just over 6 weeks now. Tank has a heater, airstone, and Aquaclear 70 HOB filer. All were purchased brand new. The HOB filter has one sponge and one bag of biomax in it (not running the carbon). I started the cycle with a bottle of Dr. Tims One and Only and dosed about 3 - 4 ppm Ace Hardware brand ammonia. After about a week there was no more ammonia so I dosed it back up to 3 - 4 ppm. Ever since then, nitrites have been very high (off the API chart). I continued to dose ammonia to about 2 ppm every few days. Last week, I did my first water change (about 50%) in an effort to bring down the nitrites but didn’t see any results. Here are my parameters today: API Test: Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: > 5 ppm Nitrate: 80 to 160 ppm pH: 8.0 Salinity: 1.025 Temp: 79 Seachem Nitrite/Nitrate Test: Nitrite: 10 to 25 ppm Nitrate: > 50 ppm At this point I’m not sure if I should do another water change or give it more time. Should I continue to dose the ammonia? 2 ppm ammonia is being processed in 24 hours. Should I put another sponge/more biomax in the filter in place of the carbon? Any help would be appreciated! __________________ 180 Gallon Starphire Rimless, 70 Gallon Sump/Fuge, AquaMaxx ConeS CO-3 Skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40QDs, 2 Eheim Jager 300 Watt, 3 Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro, Water Blaster HY-7000, Tunze 3155 ATO, Neptune Apex

05/17/2015, 01:33 PM	#4
Rangerbob86 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 59	Thanks for the help, I wont dose any more ammonia! __________________ 180 Gallon Starphire Rimless, 70 Gallon Sump/Fuge, AquaMaxx ConeS CO-3 Skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40QDs, 2 Eheim Jager 300 Watt, 3 Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro, Water Blaster HY-7000, Tunze 3155 ATO, Neptune Apex

05/17/2015, 01:37 PM	#5
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	You may not actually have nitrates that high. Nitrite will fool a nitrate test and a little bit of nitrite will show up as a large amount of nitrate. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

06/01/2015, 08:58 PM	#6
Rangerbob86 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 59	Just wanted to give a quick update...it's been over 2 weeks now since I've stopped dosing ammonia, but no noticeable change in nitrite level. It's been just over 8 weeks total for the cycle now. Continue waiting? Or is there something else I can be doing? Thanks! __________________ 180 Gallon Starphire Rimless, 70 Gallon Sump/Fuge, AquaMaxx ConeS CO-3 Skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40QDs, 2 Eheim Jager 300 Watt, 3 Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro, Water Blaster HY-7000, Tunze 3155 ATO, Neptune Apex

05/16/2015, 05:07 PM	#2
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	I went through same issue. Stop dosing ammonia. Add some live rock (seed) and just wait. Once bacteria start breaking down nitrite to nitrate it happens fast.

05/16/2015, 05:09 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Stop dosing ammonia! After the initial dose there is no reason to continue dosing it, as all it will do is produce more nitrates (the end product of your nitrate cycle). You are going to get somewhat elevated false nitrate readings as long as you have nitrites in the tank, but I suspect the end result after the cycle is complete will be high nitrates. At this point don't do anything, let nature complete the cycle. After the cycle is complete (the nitrites drop to zero) if your nitrates are still high make a 100% water change and then add your CUC. Biomax or carbon will not lower your nitrates.

06/01/2015, 10:41 PM	#7
droog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 736	How much rock and subtrate is in the tank? -droog