Question: [Cycling] When will the nitrites fall?

[BinaryRun]

Hi guys,

For the past 5 days my nitrites have been sky high. (+1ppm on my liquid tester, off the chart) When can I expect it to lower? I'm already seeing nitrates, however I understood that high nitrites do affect nitrate tests, but in any case the nitrates show as 30-40ppm.

As for ammonia (Using Janitorial Ammonia to dose) it lowers from 4ppm to 0ppm within 24 hours currently. Should I keep adding?

 

[auntiejude]

Yes, keep adding the ammonia.

Nitrite is the first stage of the cycle, nitrate second. So your ammonia is being converted as required, it's just taking the nitrites-to-nitrate bacteria a while to catch up. Keep at it.

How long have you been cycling the tank?

 

[BinaryRun]

13 days, so it's going pretty fast.

 

[BinaryRun]

Would it be a bad idea to not add ammonia for a day and leave it at 0ppm? Just to see if the nitrite is within readable levels tomorrow.

 

[JessJesting]

Take auntiejudes advice and keep adding the ammonia until the cycle ends.


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[BinaryRun]

Been doing it so far. It's now about 8/9 days into the nitrite spike without any drops. When can I expect it to lower like it did with the ammonia?

 

[JessJesting]

It's gonna be awhile. Could take months. What is the ammonia and nitrate reading?


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[BinaryRun]

Could be months? Everything I read says 3-4 weeks max total and I'm almost 3 weeks in. (Going faster due to using pure ammonia)

Ammonia drops from 4ppm to 0ppm since the past 8/9 days (since nitrite spike started). Nitrate has been a constant 30/40ppm, however I understood that high nitrite can give false nitrate readings with liquid tests.

 

[Kaini]

It can sometimes take more than 4 weeks yes but that's about the average time. It sounds like you're very nearly there.

 

[BinaryRun]

Great! I also just remembered that my tank came with a heater, so I just installed it to raise the temperature from 68 degrees to 84. Since I heard that it will help fasten the grow of the bacteria. Of course I'll take it out as soon as the cycling is done =]