Hello!
I am just starting to cycle my tank about two days ago. I’m using Dr Tim’s ammonia to cycle. I am testing the parameters today and my nitrites are showing what looks like zero, ammonia looks like 1-2 ppm to me. But my nitrates are through the roof? It looks like 10-20 ppm to me. This is my first time ever cycling and I AM using seachem stability, I’m wondering if that’s where all the nitrates are from? I didn’t think I’d see nitrates until later in the cycling process? Can someone explain. Thanks 🙏🏻
Posted by Least-Star-5633
5 Comments
you may need to add more bacteria such as doctor tim’s or seachem stability. seachem prime and water changes can neutralize ammonia but not get rid of it but i’d probably add both bacteria and prime and do a 25% and then if nitrites and ammonia keep showing i’d keep adding prime and stability
nitrates mean that nitrites are being converted or already exist but the ammonia readings are too high for there to be no nitrites
Don’t do anything, let it sit for 4 weeks or so. Test once or twice a week and you’ll be good.
Results like this can be from fertilizer adding nitrate, active substrate adding nitrare, nitrates in the tap water, or already having enough of the nitrite to nitrate bacteria. It’s not something to be concerned about though. Continue waiting, testing occasionally until ammonia is also 0. When that happens, add another 1-2 ppm of ammonia and see if both ammonia and nitrite are 0 about 24 hours later. If yes, the tank is cycled. If no, keep waiting, repeating the redosing whenever ammonia and nitrite are both 0.
I’m in the same spot with my cycle!