Increase in nitrites and nitrates during cycling

I'm in the middle of cycling my tank. This Friday will be 3 weeks since I began the cycling.

I am now seeing more significant changes in my levels.

Yesterday, my ammonia was at .5ppm for the first time. I added enough ammonium chloride drops to get it up to 2ppm which is what I began with.

I just tested my ammonia levels. It looks like it's at 0.

I just tested my nitrites level and it is now at .5ppm. This is the first time I'm seeing a change in that.

And my nitrates! Either 40 or 80ppm- I can't tell as both levels look similar on the chart.

So what next? Do I still add more ammonium chloride? Will nitrates be at 160ppm, nitrites at 0, and ammonia at 0 once tank is fully cycled?

Thanks!

 

No that is good that means the bacteria are changing the ammonia and processing it into NO2 and NO3 you tank is starting to cycle in a week or so I would say add your first and most hardy fish. Although you should probably talk to experts at your LFS because they probably have more experience than anyone. But that is great your tank has bacteria. Just watch if you nitrite go down then bacteria are processing that. Ammonia is turned into nitrite then that is turned into nitrate the final step.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I don't have an LFS at this time. So do I add more ammonium chloride until nitrites decrease completely? What should I do now?

 

I am not familiar with ammonium chloride used as a food source to cycle an aquarium. I have cycled tanks several times now and I use liquid ammonia which is pure janitor's 10% ammonia. From what I understand ammonium and ammonia are not the same thing, but I could be wrong.

Anyway your cycle is going good, nothing to worry about. Just wait until the ammonia and nitrite numbers zero out, then add another 2% ammonia to watch how fast it reduces to zero, nitrite reduces to zero, and the nitrates increase. If this happens within a 48 hour period then you have a good cycle.

 

I appreciate the information.

Ok, and no need to do a water change right now?

 

I am thinking this is a fishless cycle and if your nitrates test really high (you said earlier 40 to 80), yes do another water change, if it is fishless then you can change a huge amount of water. After adding new water don't forget to use a dechlorinator because chlorine can kill your new bacteria colony.

Test the nitrate level after the water change to get a bench mark. Then add a ammonia, in 48 hours test everything once again. Everything is zero except nitrates are on the rise again, then your good. But even if you do show a trace amount of nitrite, then don't worry about it your good.

When you go to add new fish, add them slowly don't throw a lot of new fish in all at once. Let your bacteria colony catch up with the increased load of adding a few fish at a time.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I don't have an LFS at this time. So do I add more ammonium chloride until nitrites decrease completely? What should I do now?

Adding more ammonium will not make them go away it will just make more of them