Cycle Stalled, After Huge Water Change Nitrites Still High!

Someone please help, I’m getting so fed up. I’ve been cycling my tank with Dr. Tims ammonia and Seachem Stability. My cycle was progressing well and my ammonia was disappearing after 24 hours for over a week straight, my nitrites were sitting around 2ppm and my nitrates at around 10ppm, then all of the sudden the ammonia stopped disappearing. My ammonia levels rose to 2ppm, nitrites rose to over 5ppm, and my nitrates dropped to 5ppm. Pretty sure my cycle stalled, probably because the nitrites got too high? I did a 90% water change today to bring my nitrites down so my cycle would restart and tested my water after the water change, my ammonia is down to 0.25ppm but my nitrite levels are still high, probably between 2ppm and 5ppm. Why are my levels so high after a 90% water change? Should I do another huge water change? Will my cycle restart? I feel like completely giving up.

 

HI Kasey! Welcome to Fishlore!

Unfortunately, if you want to give up, you've come to the wrong place.

Can you tell us what your current pH is? I am wondering if your cycle caused your pH to crash, which can also cause ammonia to stop being processed and your cycle to stall.

 

the test can only read up to 5ppm, your nitrites were over 5ppm, that's why they're still high after the water change.

whats your pH? cycling can cause pH to drop which will stall the cycle. if your pH is below 7, you should test the GH and KH.

 

HI Kasey! Welcome to Fishlore!

Unfortunately, if you want to give up, you've come to the wrong place.

Can you tell us what your current pH is? I am wondering if your cycle caused your pH to crash, which can also cause ammonia to stop being processed and your cycle to stall.

Hi,

My pH is about 7.4-7.6

 

Which pH test kit are you using? The high range or low range? If you used the high range for this test, can I get you to do another using the low range?

 

Which pH test kit are you using? The high range or low range? If you used the high range for this test, can I get you to do another using the low range?

I used the low range

 

I don’t think you did anything to your cycle. How long have you been cycling? Go ahead and do another water change to get everything to zero. Then dose your ammonia back up again. Hopefully you’re using water conditioner when you do water changes.

 

Ok, thank you, I just wanted to make sure.
I think your initial assessment is correct, and as Skavatar pointed out, the API nitrite card only goes to 5ppm, so it is probable your actual nitrite level was much higher. If your nitrites are still above 2ppm, I would probably recommend another 50% water change to bring them below 2ppm. Remember to use Prime or another good water conditioner to treat the water for chlorine and chloramine. Then you can redose the ammonia. This should get things rolling again. You won't have lost any bacteria, they'll be hanging around, but if might take a day or so to get them really going again.
You're doing good! Just hang in there and let us know how it goes.

 

If your tests showed the nitrates dropping then your test kit isn’t accurate. Or you didn’t bang the nitrate reagent no.2 bottle on the table before using it.
Nitrites of 5 are not high, but (as already said) they were higher than that.

Change the water until the nitrites are below 5. A 100% change should do it (don’t forget to dechlorinate). They don’t need to be that low but at least you’ll know they’re not TOO high. Also bang the life out of that nitrate bottle and get a true reading for that aswell. Getting the nitrites down should get the nitrates down too. Then re-dose ammonia and you should be good to go.

 

Thank you so much for all your help everyone! I’ve been using Seachem prime for a water conditioner. I’ll keep you updated

 

Hey everyone, so I woke up this morning and tested my water. The 0.25ppm ammonia that was left after my water change had disappeared which means the stall didn’t affect that bacteria, yay! I did the 50% water change as instructed and that brought the nitrites down to just below 1ppm and my nitrates to 0ppm. I dosed the ammonia up to 1ppm and tested my water just now, 12 hours later. My ammonia is at 0.25ppm, my nitrates are back up to 2ppm, and I have just under 10ppm of nitrates, yay! I’m due to dose my ammonia to 1ppm again in the morning because by then my readings will be at 0 so my question is, should I skip that dose of ammonia to give the nitrite eating bacteria a chance to catch up? I just don’t want my nitrite levels getting too high again.

 

Up to you. You can add ammonia, 1ppm gives 2.7ppm nitrite, then 3.6ppm nitrate. But you can skip a day or two and the bacteria will still be there.

 

I would definitely test the nitrites before making my decision. If they aren't coming down, and you decide you want to keep the ammonia bacteria fed, do another partial water change to give the nitrites more room and then dose the ammonia. Being as the ammonia is converting well, you know the nitrite bacteria will still get its food supply. So, let the nitrites and your instincts let you know what to do.