fishless cycle - nitrite too high?

[Drayven]

So my cycle has reached the point where I put it up to 3-4ppm ammonia and within 12 hours or so it's all gone so now I'm waiting for the nitrite to spike. What I'm wondering is, can you have too much nitrite? I ask because for the past few days my nitrite reading has been off the chart for my test kit which maxes out at 5ppm. I guess I'm wondering if I should do a partial water change or will that just slow things down?

 

[HN1]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. Stay the course and be patient.

 

[FishEggs]

As far as i know as long as you dont have fish in it just leave it alone. keep adding the ammo so you dont lose the first bacteria

 

[Drayven]

I figured rather than start a new thread I'd just add on to this one. I was just walking by my tank and I noticed a little black spot, and it was moving. Then I saw there was another one in the corner. That's right, I have snails in my cycling tank. Must've been on the plants I bought or the driftwood or sommething like that. Should I take em out or just leave them until the cycle completes and let the loaches and what not have a snack?

 

[Nippy Fish]

It depends on what you would do with them. It may be safer to let your future loaches have a snack. Otherwise you could be introducing them into an environment where they shouldn't be by putting them down the drain, out with the trash, etc.