Hello – I am using fishless cycle to get everything ready in my new tank (10g). I am 12 weeks into it and the second stage (Nitrite to Nitrate) is stalling. Ammonia converts to Nitrite fairly quickly (<1 day) but Nitrate conversion is taking forever. In the last four weeks I saw Nitrate spike up couple of times but Nitrite never really dropped. I think it had way too much nitrite, so I changed the water couple of times to got the Nitrite back to 5-7ppm range. I am not seeing Nitrite to Nitrate conversion anymore or may be it is very very slow.
So, my questions are –
1. Should I just wait until I see a Nitrate spike again?
2. Should I continue to add Ammonia to make sure that bacteria doesn’t starve & die? (Ammonia seems to be converting fast but I am afraid that Nitrite will build up again if add regularly).
3. Anything I can do to help the process move or anyway to check if the process stalled?
Appreciate all the help!
Thanks
PS - Posted this in the Saltwater forum by mistake. Don't know how to move it to this forum so reposting it here.
So, my questions are –
1. Should I just wait until I see a Nitrate spike again?
2. Should I continue to add Ammonia to make sure that bacteria doesn’t starve & die? (Ammonia seems to be converting fast but I am afraid that Nitrite will build up again if add regularly).
3. Anything I can do to help the process move or anyway to check if the process stalled?
Appreciate all the help!
Thanks
PS - Posted this in the Saltwater forum by mistake. Don't know how to move it to this forum so reposting it here.