quick cycle question

Jasontkd · 04/01/2012, 02:17 PM

Ok. New tank. 14 gallon. Started with dry rock and one seeded live rock. I dosed ammonia and had ammonia levels at 4ppm for several days. Today. Ammonia almost 0. But nitrite and nitrate ares off the chart. I have never had this happen

Jasontkd · 04/01/2012, 02:19 PM

I mean both spiked today. Not nitrite followed by nitrate. Both spiked together. How is that possible? How should I proceed?

Jasontkd · 04/01/2012, 02:23 PM

Also, I have a pretty nice diatome bloom going on too

TheAquatard · 04/01/2012, 03:19 PM

Just give it time, it'll work its way out

dreef1 · 04/01/2012, 03:20 PM

A new tank goes through a series of cycles and as long as you do the proper maintenance like water changes you should be fine and it should eventually maintain itself.

Jasontkd · 04/01/2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAquatard

Just give it time, it'll work its way out

I have cycled several tanks, but have never seen anything like this. I have always had a pretty standard first cycle (ammonia spike, followed by nitrite spike, followed by nitrate spike). Never have I had Nitrite and Nitrate spike at the same time.

I just don't see how it can work. I mean, the ammonia was high for a few weeks, giving ample time for the bacteria to populate to convert ammonia to nitrite, but how can there be enough bacteria to convert nitrite to nitrate? They spiked at the same time.

00Warpig00 · 04/01/2012, 05:05 PM

apparently there is... or you wouldn't have any nitrate. I wouldnt worry about it for a second. Just keep waiting and testing to see when nitrite drops.

Nick

Jasontkd · 04/03/2012, 07:24 PM

Ok, still cycling. Thanks for all the help so far. My new concern is the level of the nitrites. As soon as I run the test, it is instantly showing 5ppm (highest reading listed) without any resting time.

So, I have heard if nitrites get too high it can stall a cycle. Should I just wait this out, or should I do a water change of some sort?

Jasontkd · 04/03/2012, 07:27 PM

Ok, still cycling. Thanks for all the help so far. My new concern is the level of the nitrites. As soon as I run the test, it is instantly showing 5ppm (highest reading listed) without any resting time.

So, I have heard if nitrites get too high it can stall a cycle. Should I just wait this out, or should I do a water change of some sort?

Nemo Girl · 04/03/2012, 07:34 PM

U should wait for your tank to cycle before a water change.

Sport507 · 04/03/2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasontkd

Ok, still cycling. Thanks for all the help so far. My new concern is the level of the nitrites. As soon as I run the test, it is instantly showing 5ppm (highest reading listed) without any resting time.

So, I have heard if nitrites get too high it can stall a cycle. Should I just wait this out, or should I do a water change of some sort?

What is your rush? You have proven to yourself that nitrites are of the chart with no rest time on a test. No, the cycle will complete when it completes and nitrites will have no delay in the process.

Keep in mind that Nitrites are killers, just don't jump the gun and wait it out. When you see Nitrates get down to 15PPM ok 20 or less the think about livestock.

Yes, no water change needed until after the cycle.

00Warpig00 · 04/03/2012, 10:39 PM

This is just my opinion, but I prefer a large spike of ammonia/nitrite, no matter that it can take three or more weeks for that nitrite spike to drop to 0. If I have larger spikes I feel more confident that the bacteria that needs to exist to convert ammonia/nitrite/nitrate is more plentiful.

Patience...

Nick

rpjaws74 · 04/04/2012, 12:23 AM

like they say nothing good happens fast in this hobby!!

Jasontkd · 04/04/2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport507

What is your rush? You have proven to yourself that nitrites are of the chart with no rest time on a test. No, the cycle will complete when it completes and nitrites will have no delay in the process.

Keep in mind that Nitrites are killers, just don't jump the gun and wait it out. When you see Nitrates get down to 15PPM ok 20 or less the think about livestock.

Yes, no water change needed until after the cycle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpjaws74

like they say nothing good happens fast in this hobby!!

There is no rush. I am not asking questions because I am impatient or want to hurry up and start adding things. I am also not new to this hobby.

With all that being said, I have just never had a cycle go the way (2 spikes at the same time) this one has, so i figured it was worth asking. Also, I have read several threads over the years where people discuss how very high Nitrite levels can completely stall a cycle.

Now although I am not in a hurry, nor do I want to rush this, I also don't want to unnecessarily stall the cycle that is currently taking place.

04/01/2012, 02:17 PM	#1
Jasontkd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 545	quick cycle question Ok. New tank. 14 gallon. Started with dry rock and one seeded live rock. I dosed ammonia and had ammonia levels at 4ppm for several days. Today. Ammonia almost 0. But nitrite and nitrate ares off the chart. I have never had this happen

04/01/2012, 05:05 PM	#7
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	apparently there is... or you wouldn't have any nitrate. I wouldnt worry about it for a second. Just keep waiting and testing to see when nitrite drops. Nick __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

04/03/2012, 10:39 PM	#12
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	This is just my opinion, but I prefer a large spike of ammonia/nitrite, no matter that it can take three or more weeks for that nitrite spike to drop to 0. If I have larger spikes I feel more confident that the bacteria that needs to exist to convert ammonia/nitrite/nitrate is more plentiful. Patience... Nick __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

04/04/2012, 12:23 AM	#13
rpjaws74 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 1,340	like they say nothing good happens fast in this hobby!! __________________ rpjaws Current Tank Info: 500 glln system/ Reef

04/01/2012, 02:19 PM	#2
Jasontkd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 545	I mean both spiked today. Not nitrite followed by nitrate. Both spiked together. How is that possible? How should I proceed?

04/01/2012, 02:23 PM	#3
Jasontkd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 545	Also, I have a pretty nice diatome bloom going on too

04/01/2012, 03:19 PM	#4
TheAquatard Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 284	Just give it time, it'll work its way out

04/01/2012, 03:20 PM	#5
dreef1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 6	A new tank goes through a series of cycles and as long as you do the proper maintenance like water changes you should be fine and it should eventually maintain itself.

04/03/2012, 07:24 PM	#8
Jasontkd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 545	Ok, still cycling. Thanks for all the help so far. My new concern is the level of the nitrites. As soon as I run the test, it is instantly showing 5ppm (highest reading listed) without any resting time. So, I have heard if nitrites get too high it can stall a cycle. Should I just wait this out, or should I do a water change of some sort?

04/03/2012, 07:27 PM	#9
Jasontkd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 545	Ok, still cycling. Thanks for all the help so far. My new concern is the level of the nitrites. As soon as I run the test, it is instantly showing 5ppm (highest reading listed) without any resting time. So, I have heard if nitrites get too high it can stall a cycle. Should I just wait this out, or should I do a water change of some sort?

04/03/2012, 07:34 PM	#10
Nemo Girl Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 21	U should wait for your tank to cycle before a water change.