sidsam
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi all...
I'm doing a fishless cycle on a 10gal that I plan to use as a QT. It's been up and running for 4 weeks. I started dosing to 4ppm ammonia and after 2 weeks it started to decline and nitrites appeared. After another few days nitrates started appearing. I've continued to dose with ammonia to about the same amount. Right now it will convert all the ammonia in less than 24 hours. The nitrites are off the scale, nitrates about 10ppm.
I have a some questions.
Do I have to continue to dose with ammonia? I'm thinking yes in order to feed the bacteria.
Will high nitrites stall the cycle? Should I do a water change?
Generally how long will it take before the nitrites start to decrease? I know that the bacteria needed in this case is slower growing.
thanks guys, I love this resource
I'm doing a fishless cycle on a 10gal that I plan to use as a QT. It's been up and running for 4 weeks. I started dosing to 4ppm ammonia and after 2 weeks it started to decline and nitrites appeared. After another few days nitrates started appearing. I've continued to dose with ammonia to about the same amount. Right now it will convert all the ammonia in less than 24 hours. The nitrites are off the scale, nitrates about 10ppm.
I have a some questions.
Do I have to continue to dose with ammonia? I'm thinking yes in order to feed the bacteria.
Will high nitrites stall the cycle? Should I do a water change?
Generally how long will it take before the nitrites start to decrease? I know that the bacteria needed in this case is slower growing.
thanks guys, I love this resource