Quick Cycling Advice - Nitrites

This is normal and is telling us that you don't have enough nitrite eating bacteria to go straight through to nitrates yet.

 

Just to keep this update up and hopefully useful for others..

Overnight the 1ppm ammonia addition cleared to 0-0.2..

But Nitrites have shown again at 0.25

Nitrates are now quite high at to my eyes above 40 but not 80 so lets say 50

So I’m clearing 1ppm ammonia in around 12-14 hours but nitrite is increasing and not clearing alongside it

Ill leave ammonia as is for now and measure nitrite later on to assess a drop, or not

Two different bacteria. Two different growth rates. Nitrosomonas replicate about twice as fast as nitrobacter. What you're seeing is normal. When your Nitrates creep over 40, do a 50%water change and redose ammonia. The nitrites aren't going to drop until the nitrobacter colony gets big enough to handle all the nitrites produced by the oxidation of 1 ppm ammonia. Keep dosing, keep doing water changes to keep nitrites <3 and nitrates at 40 or less. You can't rush mother nature lol! Aah! mattgirl beat me to the punch!

 

So I measured ammonia at 0 this morning, nitrite at 0

Added 0.5 ammonia 8 hours ago, just measured and...

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.25


Thought it had cracked it this morning
Nitrate is around 40

 

So I measured ammonia at 0 this morning, nitrite at 0

Added 0.5 ammonia 8 hours ago, just measured and...

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.25


Thought it had cracked it this morning
Nitrate is around 40

I would wait the full 24 hours between adding ammonia and running the test. I think you will get a more accurate view as to what is happening if you do.

 

So I measured ammonia at 0 this morning, nitrite at 0

Added 0.5 ammonia 8 hours ago, just measured and...

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.25
Thought it had cracked it this morning
Nitrate is around 40

Okay, you're cycling for a betta-- .5 ppm is enough. Just wait 16 more hours (-the full 24 hours after dosing) if your nitrites drop to 0 by then, you're cycled.

 

Try to look at it like this. You are adding a days worth of ammonia all at the same time. Once your Betta is in there he will be adding a tiny bit at a time but will be adding it often but still just a tiny bit each time. The bacteria in your tank will be constantly cleaning up that tiny amount so there should never be another spike once this tank is cycled and I have to think it is cycled now.

 

Thanks - I’m not frustrated, I just clearly love a test!

weirdo

 

Ok - 24 hours later nitrites are 0

just dosed ammonia again for another 24 hour confirmation

Maybe leave it to run over the weekend and look at adding a betta early next week if all is stable

cheers

 

Ok - 24 hours later nitrites are 0

just dosed ammonia again for another 24 hour confirmation

Maybe leave it to run over the weekend and look at adding a betta early next week if all is stable

cheers

I have to think this cycle is finally done and ready for your new water pet Just continue adding ammonia at least every other day up until the day before you get your betta. Do a water change the day before you get him and all should go well.