over a week into a fishless cycle and i have two questions
1: i know it's only been a little over a week into my fishless cycling process, but the nitrites are just super high. should i do a water change in order to lower nitrites? or should i just wait it out. ammonia has been
0-.25ppm the last few days but nitrites have been the same the entire week. some people say just let it sit and some people say do a water change, so i just want some advice
2: since the nitrites are still high, do i avoid adding ammonia? i haven't even gotten to use my drtims ammonia yet because i read that u shouldn't add ammonia until nitrites are close to 0ppm. so do i continue to hold off on adding ammonia?
https://i.redd.it/ggejtxtnbm8g1.jpeg
Posted by nyct0ph0bia19
3 Comments
The bacteria that consumed nitrites is slower to colonize than the one that initial consumed ammonia (producing nitrite as its waste). It can take 6-8 weeks for it to get cycled and just get nitrate readings back.
Technically you only have to do water changes if there are live animals (which you don’t) or live plants. If not keep the tank dark and if possible covered so algae does not take hold. But imo it’s good to get into the habit of whatever routine you want for water changes (like 50% once a week or 30% every 3 days, whatever) just get in the habit now. Also if you wait until the cycle is finished you will have to do a loooooot of water changes to get out all the built up nitrates .
Yes keep dosing ammonia. The bacteria that consume ammonia still need food. If you stop they stave and the cycle stalls/crashes.
It’s normal. You’re right in the middle of the process. High nitrites at this stage mean the first bacteria (ammonia -> nitrite) are established, but the second group (nitrite -> nitrate) is still catching up.
1 – If this is a fishless cycle, you do not need to do a water change just because nitrites are high. Nitrites being high is expected and not harmful when no fish are present. Water changes can actually slow the cycle by diluting what the bacteria need to feed on.
2 – Yes, add ammonia, but in small amounts.
You don’t want ammonia at 0 for long periods, because the bacteria that eat ammonia still need food to stay alive.
I suggest to dose ammonia to around 1–2 ppm, not more, even if nitrites are high. Don’t wait for nitrites to hit 0 before adding ammonia again.
I just recently finished my fishless cycle and I had this situation for a few days. I did no water changes and had no averse affects, but one day I checked and they were gone. Just keep dosing and wait – in few days you’ll check and both ammonia and nitrites will be 0 🙂