Is this a normal part of cycling?

Hey everyone, I'm a 1st time poster here. I am currently cycling a new planted aquarium. It has been about 2-3 weeks since it started. The ammonia is at 0ppm (which I understand that the plants are using), the nitrites AND the nitrates are SKY HIGH. I was wondering if extremely dirty, cloudy water is a normal part of the process of cycling?

 

Welcome to Fishlore

When you say sky high exactly how high it that? What is your ammonia source?

 

Welcome to Fishlore

When you say sky high exactly how high it that? What is your ammonia source?

I'm using Fritz Fishless Fuel for the ammonia. When I say sky high the nitrites are around 80 ppm

I'm using Fritz Fishless Fuel for the ammonia. When I say sky high the nitrites are around 80 ppm

I'm sorry, nitrites are at 5 ppm or higher and nitrates are 80 ppm

 

I'm using Fritz Fishless Fuel for the ammonia. When I say sky high the nitrites are around 80 ppm

I'm sorry, nitrites are at 5 ppm or higher and nitrates are 80 ppm

Does the ammonia you add go down to 0 within 24 hours of adding it? If so then your cycle is moving forward and it is just a matter of feeding the bacteria and giving both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria time to balance out.

Is the cloudiness in the tank white or green? It actually looks green in the photo but that could be because of the plants. If it is white it is normal and will eventually clear up. Normally water changes won't stop it.

 

Does the ammonia you add go down to 0 within 24 hours of adding it? If so then your cycle is moving forward and it is just a matter of feeding the bacteria and giving both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria time to balance out.

Is the cloudiness in the tank white or green? It actually looks green in the photo but that could be because of the plants. If it is white it is normal and will eventually clear up. Normally water changes won't stop it.

Yes, the ammonia goes down to 0 within 24 hours. I talked with them and they said that if I'm using fertilizer then it is not necessary. Although I am still adding ammonia. The cloudiness isn't all the way green but does have a greenish tint to it.
I keep messing my posts up. Lol. they said that if I'm using fertilizer then it is not necessary to keep adding ammonia

 

Yes, the ammonia goes down to 0 within 24 hours. I talked with Aquarium Co-Op and they said that if I'm using fertilizer then it is not necessary. Although I am still adding ammonia. The cloudiness isn't all the way green but does have a greenish tint to it.

That is good. As long as it is going down then the cycle is moving forward. If it stops going down or slows down it will be time to do a water change to get it moving forward again.

I don't think I agree with not adding ammonia since you have plants. I am happy to hear that you are still adding it. We need to keep the bacteria fed. What is your pH level? As long as it is 7 or above all should be well. If it starts going down below that level the cycling process slows down. Should it get as low as 6 the cycle will almost stall. The tank will eventually cycle but it will take much longer.

Since we are seeing some green water you may need to cut back on both the ferts you are adding and also the length of time the light is on.

 

The cloudiness looks like green water - tiny microscoping algae suspended in the water.

It is caused by too much light and nutrient imbalance.

Stop fertilizing. Your tank being new, I see no point in doing It. And when you start again, give a very small dose, a lot smaller than you do now.

Turn off the lights for a few days. And when you turn them back on, go very slow, starting with a few hours a day and increasing after many days, even a week.

If your tank is in direct sunlight, this needs to be fixed also or you’ll constantly be struggling with algae.

 

That is good. As long as it is going down then the cycle is moving forward. If it stops going down or slows down it will be time to do a water change to get it moving forward again.

I don't think I agree with not adding ammonia since you have plants. I am happy to hear that you are still adding it. We need to keep the bacteria fed. What is your pH level? As long as it is 7 or above all should be well. If it starts going down below that level the cycling process slows down. Should it get as low as 6 the cycle will almost stall. The tank will eventually cycle but it will take much longer.

Since we are seeing some green water you may need to cut back on both the ferts you are adding and also the length of time the light is on.

Thank you so much. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the cycle might have crashed. Just tested the nitrites and nitrates and both are reading 0 Yesterday they were both really high. The only thing that I did different is that I added some Marineland carbon to the HOB filter.

 

Thank you so much. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the cycle might have crashed. Just tested the nitrites and nitrates and both are reading 0 Yesterday they were both really high. The only thing that I did different is that I added some Marineland carbon to the HOB filter.

Seeing the nitrites drop from high to zero over night isn't unusual. That is actually what often happens. It simply means you have finally grown enough nitrite eating bacteria to process them through to nitrates. Add your normal amount of ammonia. If it is gone 24 hours later then your cycle is fine.

Seeing the nitrates drop from 80 to 0 over night is unusual though. You may want to rerun the test.

 

The cloudiness looks like green water - tiny microscoping algae suspended in the water.

It is caused by too much light and nutrient imbalance.

Stop fertilizing. Your tank being new, I see no point in doing It. And when you start again, give a very small dose, a lot smaller than you do now.

Turn off the lights for a few days. And when you turn them back on, go very slow, starting with a few hours a day and increasing after many days, even a week.

If your tank is in direct sunlight, this needs to be fixed also or you’ll constantly be struggling with algae.

I will definitely take your advice. I really appreciate the help!

Seeing the nitrites drop from high to zero over night isn't unusual. That is actually what often happens. It simply means you have finally grown enough nitrite eating bacteria to process them through to nitrates. Add your normal amount of ammonia. If it is gone 24 hours later then your cycle is fine.

Seeing the nitrates drop from 80 to 0 over night is unusual though. You may want to rerun the test.

I will certainly try to rerun the test. Thank you all for your help and advice! I will keep you updated on the progress!

 

The cloudiness looks like green water - tiny microscoping algae suspended in the water.

It is caused by too much light and nutrient imbalance.

Stop fertilizing. Your tank being new, I see no point in doing It. And when you start again, give a very small dose, a lot smaller than you do now.

Turn off the lights for a few days. And when you turn them back on, go very slow, starting with a few hours a day and increasing after many days, even a week.

If your tank is in direct sunlight, this needs to be fixed also or you’ll constantly be struggling with algae.

The plants should be ok without the lights for a few days, right? I have another tank with fish in it but this is my first planted aquarium so I'm still making my way through the process of cycling with plants.

 

The plants should be ok without the lights for a few days, right? I have another tank with fish in it but this is my first planted aquarium so I'm still making my way through the process of cycling with plants.

Yes, I’ve done it many times and this is a very common way to get rid of algae.

 

The cloudiness looks like green water - tiny microscoping algae suspended in the water.

It is caused by too much light and nutrient imbalance.

Stop fertilizing. Your tank being new, I see no point in doing It. And when you start again, give a very small dose, a lot smaller than you do now.

Turn off the lights for a few days. And when you turn them back on, go very slow, starting with a few hours a day and increasing after many days, even a week.

If your tank is in direct sunlight, this needs to be fixed also or you’ll constantly be struggling with algae.

Ok, it is looking like the water is clearing SLIGHTLY. The ammonia is still getting processed overnight, the nitrites are back up to 5 ppm or over, and the nitrates are back up to around 80 ppm. The negative readings the other day must have been a testing error. The pH is between 7.5 and 8. So it seems as though I'm on the right track. At what point would you consider a water change? Would you just wait until the cycle is done and do a large change then?

 

Ok, it is looking like the water is clearing SLIGHTLY. The ammonia is still getting processed overnight, the nitrites are back up to 5 ppm or over, and the nitrates are back up to around 80 ppm. The negative readings the other day must have been a testing error. The pH is between 7.5 and 8. So it seems as though I'm on the right track. At what point would you consider a water change? Would you just wait until the cycle is done and do a large change then?

Both nitrite and nitrate testing must have been false readings. Normally when nitrites spike and then go to zero you won't see them again. Seeing them now tells me they didn't drop to zero. For now I would go the adding ammonia every 48 hours instead of every 24. By doing so you will give the nitrite eating bacteria a chance to catch up with the ammonia eating bacteria.

If after a week from today the nitrites haven't dropped to zero I will recommend a 50% water change. The cycling process tends to use up the minerals in our tap water. The water change will replenish them. Just be sure you temp match and add your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in there. I know there are no fish in this tank but I consider the bacteria a living thing thus the reason for temp matching the fresh water.

 

Both nitrite and nitrate testing must have been false readings. Normally when nitrites spike and then go to zero you won't see them again. Seeing them now tells me they didn't drop to zero. For now I would go the adding ammonia every 48 hours instead of every 24. By doing so you will give the nitrite eating bacteria a chance to catch up with the ammonia eating bacteria.

If after a week from today the nitrites haven't dropped to zero I will recommend a 50% water change. The cycling process tends to use up the minerals in our tap water. The water change will replenish them. Just be sure you temp match and add your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in there. I know there are no fish in this tank but I consider the bacteria a living thing thus the reason for temp matching the fresh water.

Again, thank you so much for the advice. I will give it a week adding ammonia every 48 hours, test every day, and see how it looks next weekend. Hopefully the nitrites will begin going down!

 

The cloudiness looks like green water - tiny microscoping algae suspended in the water.

It is caused by too much light and nutrient imbalance.

Stop fertilizing. Your tank being new, I see no point in doing It. And when you start again, give a very small dose, a lot smaller than you do now.

Turn off the lights for a few days. And when you turn them back on, go very slow, starting with a few hours a day and increasing after many days, even a week.

If your tank is in direct sunlight, this needs to be fixed also or you’ll constantly be struggling with algae.

WOW, what a difference! Thank you everyone so much! This tank is now fully cycled! The ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are all good!

 

Awesome aquascape, that’s looks great!

 

WOW, what a difference! Thank you everyone so much! This tank is now fully cycled! The ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are all good!

This is great news. Thank you for the update

 

Awesome aquascape, that’s looks great!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. I'm really proud of how it turned out.