Day five of cycle and still no sign of nitrite?

Hey guys! Just had a quick question about the nitrogen cycle. I've been cycling my 5 gallon tank for 5 days and still no sign of nitrite. I've tried to keep my ammonia levels at around 1.0-4.0 ppm and I thought that by now id at least have some signs of low nitrite or something. How long does it usually take for nitrites to show up? And even after that... how long will it take for nitrite to convert to nitrate? Thanks guys!

 

Hey guys! Just had a quick question about the nitrogen cycle. I've been cycling my 5 gallon tank for 5 days and still no sign of nitrite. I've tried to keep my ammonia levels at around 1.0-4.0 ppm and I thought that by now id at least have some signs of low nitrite or something. How long does it usually take for nitrites to show up? And even after that... how long will it take for nitrite to convert to nitrate? Thanks guys!

Whoa there. You've got an easy 16 more days before you get to start worrying. Patience....

All in, 4-6 weeks is a pretty reasonable expectation for ammonia > nitrite > nitrate

 

Hey guys! Just had a quick question about the nitrogen cycle. I've been cycling my 5 gallon tank for 5 days and still no sign of nitrite. I've tried to keep my ammonia levels at around 1.0-4.0 ppm and I thought that by now id at least have some signs of low nitrite or something. How long does it usually take for nitrites to show up? And even after that... how long will it take for nitrite to convert to nitrate? Thanks guys!

Nevermind lol. I just did another water test after writing my post. These are the readings now... Ammonia 1.0 ppm, Nitrite 0.5 ppm, and Nitrate 10ppm. Where the heck did these new readings come from?? lol!

 

Hey guys! Just had a quick question about the nitrogen cycle. I've been cycling my 5 gallon tank for 5 days and still no sign of nitrite. I've tried to keep my ammonia levels at around 1.0-4.0 ppm and I thought that by now id at least have some signs of low nitrite or something. How long does it usually take for nitrites to show up? And even after that... how long will it take for nitrite to convert to nitrate? Thanks guys!

When you say you try to keep your ammonia levels at 1-4ppm, did that mean ammonia was consumed and you had to dose more?

What is your nitrate reading?

 

Whoa there. You've got an easy 16 more days before you get to start worrying. Patience....

All in, 4-6 weeks is a pretty reasonable expectation for ammonia > nitrite > nitrate

For sure. I've been on many aquarist sub reddits trying to get information and learn but there are just so many different answers.

When you say you try to keep your ammonia levels at 1-4ppm, did that mean ammonia was consumed and you had to dose more?

What is your nitrate reading?

nitrate was at 10ppm it looked like... the color difference between 10 and 20 is veryyyy minute. But i would say ten because the it looks closer to the ten mark

For sure. I've been on many aquarist sub reddits trying to get information and learn but there are just so many different answers.

nitrate was at 10ppm it looked like... the color difference between 10 and 20 is veryyyy minute. But i would say ten because the it looks closer to the ten mark

Ill post a pic of the test. Also Hi Azedenkae!

 

First of all, you're doing the right thing. Just know that this is not a quick process...but I promise you... it will happen.
The last tank I cycled from scratch, I kept a daily log. So I will share with you a timeline that you can use as a reference. You may see results faster or slower than this.

In 5 gallons keep your ammonia between 1-2ppm. You will cycle faster and a 4ppm cycle is not neccessary in a tank that small.

You might not see nitrite for 20 days as the bacteria colony starts to establish and grow.

Once you see nitrite it will rise quickly. You need to keep your nitrite level measurable....and definitely less than 5ppm. This will be a fun balancing act as you bring your ammonia up to 2ppm every 3 days then change your water the following day (ammonia should be at zero) to dilute your nitrite back down.

At this point you will play this balance game for about 2 weeks until you notice that you no longer need to dilute your nitrite because its dropping on its own.

Stay with it and be patient. It will happen.
When you can dose your tank to 2ppm ammonia and ammonia and nitrite are both 0ppm 24 hours later you are all set.

Remember keep the water well oxygenated and the filter running. If you have a adjustable heater, run it up to 82-84 degrees so the bacteria grows faster.

This process can take 4 to 6 weeks but you will be glad you made it through and I know....it will test your patience. But it will happen.

 

Test the tap water for nitrates nitrates and ammonia if you have not already.

 

nitrate was at 10ppm it looked like... the color difference between 10 and 20 is veryyyy minute. But i would say ten because the it looks closer to the ten mark

Well that's a very good sign.

Nitrite does not necessarily need to appear if you have plenty of nitrite-oxidizers to take care of it as it is produced.

Here it sounds like that is what is happening, or close to that anyways. After all, in your last thread, your nitrate was zero. Now it is 10ppm, which indicates ammonia is being oxidized to nitrite and then to nitrate. Otherwise, you'd not have been able to see any nitrate.

So yes, we are still seeing some nitrite, but well, not exactly super high eh.

 

When you say you try to keep your ammonia levels at 1-4ppm, did that mean ammonia was consumed and you had to dose more?

What is your nitrate reading?

Here are the readings

Well that's a very good sign.

Nitrite does not necessarily need to appear if you have plenty of nitrite-oxidizers to take care of it as it is produced.

Here it sounds like that is what is happening, or close to that anyways. After all, in your last thread, your nitrate was zero. Now it is 10ppm, which indicates ammonia is being oxidized to nitrite and then to nitrate. Otherwise, you'd not have been able to see any nitrate.

So yes, we are still seeing some nitrite, but well, not exactly super high eh.

yessirrrrr. Well considering that now I have all three present in the tank now, should I do a water change?

 

Here are the readings

yessirrrrr. Well considering that now I have all three present in the tank now, should I do a water change?

I'd recommend just waiting it out. If you got ammonia pretty high and nitrite is only reading this low, that's a good sign.

P.S. I remember you said yesterday you dosed 2ppm? Have you dosed anymore than that?

 

Here are the readings

yessirrrrr. Well considering that now I have all three present in the tank now, should I do a water change?

You are golden. Did you use any rapid cycle products? Dont do anything for now, let that ammonia and nitrite convert, your levels are great. Check again tomorrow evening and see how close to zero you are.

 

I'd recommend just waiting it out. If you got ammonia pretty high and nitrite is only reading this low, that's a good sign.

P.S. I remember you said yesterday you dosed 2ppm? Have you dosed anymore than that?

Yeah I had dosed 2.0 ppm ammonia yesterday and this morning it was 1.0 ppm. The latest reading was the picture I had sent. Ill wait and see what happens.

You are golden. Did you use any rapid cycle products? Dont do anything for now, let that ammonia and nitrite convert, your levels are great. Check again tomorrow evening and see how close to zero you are.

Yeah I had used brightwell microbacter xlf one day one and dosed it with one capful for the five gallons. And also in another thread I had mentioned that I rinsed out my filter with dechlorinated water yesterday and did like a 20-25 percent water changeand added in Fritzzyme 7 and dosed to a quarter cup. and that was it. It really felt like i had no idea what I was doing... and to be fair I wasnt haha. and reading a bunch of passive agressive reddit posts were also not helping.

 

Yeah I had dosed 2.0 ppm ammonia yesterday and this morning it was 1.0 ppm. The latest reading was the picture I had sent. Ill wait and see what happens.

Very, very good sign then yeah. 2ppm dropping to 1ppm should generate 2.7ppm. Your nitrite reading at 0.5ppm indicates that 2.2ppm nitrite was consumed within when you dosed the ammonia and when you measured next. So quite good. Ideally we'd want 5.4ppm nitrite to be consumed a day, but anyways don't fret too much though, a single betta should not produce too much ammonia anyways.

 

Very, very good sign then yeah. 2ppm dropping to 1ppm should generate 2.7ppm. Your nitrite reading at 0.5ppm indicates that 2.2ppm nitrite was consumed within when you dosed the ammonia and when you measured next. So quite good. Ideally we'd want 5.4ppm nitrite to be consumed a day, but anyways don't fret too much though, a single betta should not produce too much ammonia anyways.

Great! Ill keep this updated

 

When you say you try to keep your ammonia levels at 1-4ppm, did that mean ammonia was consumed and you had to dose more?

What is your nitrate reading?

Here are the readings

I'd recommend just waiting it out. If you got ammonia pretty high and nitrite is only reading this low, that's a good sign.

P.S. I remember you said yesterday you dosed 2ppm? Have you dosed anymore than that?

no I haven’t dosed anymore than that day. The only thing I’ll note is that I redecorated the tank and the water got stirred up. That’s all.

Here are the readings

no I haven’t dosed anymore than that day. The only thing I’ll note is that I redecorated the tank and the water got stirred up. That’s all.

This water test was this morning btw

Here are the readings

no I haven’t dosed anymore than that day. The only thing I’ll note is that I redecorated the tank and the water got stirred up. That’s all.

This water test was this morning btw

Here it is…