Hello,
I'm new to the forum, but I've been lurking around here for quite some time. I've been in the hobby for 3 years now and I just started my second tank. I have a question regarding fishless cycle and I can't seem to get a solid answer. The new tank is planted w/ various sword and crypt plants. I added filter floss from my established 20 gallon into the filter of the new tank. Each morning I add ammonia to bump up the ammonia level and within 12 hours my ammonia level drops to 0, but I still show low levels of nitrite at the 12 hour mark. By the next morning however the nitrite level is back to 0 (it has been this way for 4 days now). Does nitrite need to drop in 12 hours for a fishless cycle to be considered complete or is 24 hours ok? Also, I'm reading VERY low nitrate levels (5.0 ppm). I think it's due to the plants that I have. Is that a sensible conclusion? Thank you in advance for your help.
I'm new to the forum, but I've been lurking around here for quite some time. I've been in the hobby for 3 years now and I just started my second tank. I have a question regarding fishless cycle and I can't seem to get a solid answer. The new tank is planted w/ various sword and crypt plants. I added filter floss from my established 20 gallon into the filter of the new tank. Each morning I add ammonia to bump up the ammonia level and within 12 hours my ammonia level drops to 0, but I still show low levels of nitrite at the 12 hour mark. By the next morning however the nitrite level is back to 0 (it has been this way for 4 days now). Does nitrite need to drop in 12 hours for a fishless cycle to be considered complete or is 24 hours ok? Also, I'm reading VERY low nitrate levels (5.0 ppm). I think it's due to the plants that I have. Is that a sensible conclusion? Thank you in advance for your help.