I thought I also stated (pretty clearly) that it is a scientific impossibility that fresh water will not lower the no2 assuming the new water has no nitrIte in it.
My tap water has 0 nitrites; 1-2ppm ammonia. When I do my 95% water changes, and I test the water immeditaley afterwards, yes, there are 0 nitirites. 2-3 hours later, it is over 5ppm. Why would this happen?
As I said...it may take several immediate back-to-back large water changes to lower it.
When you say back to back, do you mean immediately following? I did 2 in each day the last 3 days and it has done nothing. I did 23 in 27 days (every day just about), it has not done anything.
I understand it doesn't seem like it wants to budge...but according to the laws of science and mathematics...it will.
ok, I guess. I am not sure what laws these are. I have been googling and asking absolutely tons of people about this for weeks on end now. The only thing I get is basically what you are saying but others on message boards, but nowhere I have able to get an aswer on why or how this is happening so far.
Doing them over the course of a long period is different than doing them back-to-back. The levels are continuing to rise, so drawing out the pwc's will basically just keep you even.
I am not sure how putting in a tank full of water, then emptying it out, back to back does anything? What is that doing? Where are are all these nitrites coming from? the filter, the gravel? on the items in the tank (fake plants, etc)?
I guess, logic would dictate, if I put in 1-2 ppm of ammonia it would produce 1-2ppm Nitrite, but I guess it does not? It must produce it at a much, much higher rate? Am I doomed since my tap water has that much ammonia? Where else is the nitrite coming from?
Most likely, the no2 level is at toxic ranges and that is what is preventing your cycle from finishing. Drain the tank and refill a few times all at once (keep the media wet), and the no2 level will drop. I promise you.
Ok, I can do like 10 100% water changes in a row, I guess, but before I do that, where is all this nitrite exactly? Would it be better to empty the tank and take everything but the filter media out and clean it and let it dry?
If I do back to back to back...etc. water changes, should I just keep the filter media in water? Not turn the filter on at all?
Thanks for your help, just trying to understand this, because it logically doesn't seem to make any sense whatsoever, so I am assuming I am not understanding the nitrogen cycle or where the nitrites are, exactly.