Ok I’m confused this test is very different from my last test. Why is the nitrate so high? I’ve been ghost feeding to get the process started. After the tank pic is my first water test and since that first test I added more plants and a pice of driftwood.
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1ry60sq
Posted by Financial-Basil3001
5 Comments
This is a 10 gallon with a filter and a heater and it’s been cycling for a week
This is part of the cycling process. It will take at least 4 weeks for it to cycle.
it’s close to the end! normal for nitrates to go high— it’s a good sign. don’t do anything until ammonia/nirtrite are 0 and then do a water change to lower nitrate.
nitrites show up on the nitrate test im pretty sure
Water changes during a fishless cycle that remove any ammonia or nitrite would actually be a bit counterproductive (unless they’re extremely high) because it can make your bacteria colonies less robust. Removing their food means less of them will grow if that makes sense. Don’t worry about the nitrate. It’s normal for nitrate to be high towards the end of the cycle and elevated nitrite will also artificially elevate nitrate. You can always lower nitrate after ammonia and nitrite have both dropped.
Adding a good source of beneficial bacteria (most of the bottled products do nothing) will help the cycle move faster. But otherwise, no, there’s no real way to rush things.