Nitrite

[CanadianWaters]

Stalled Cycle?

I am fish less cycling my tank and I watched my ammonia drop and my nitrites spike till they were off what my test kit could read. I did a 50% water change but my nitrites didnt even budge. They are exactly as they were before the change and still are a few days later. Is my cycle stalled or is this normal?
Any help or opinion is appreciated!!

 

[Scottyhorse]

This happened to me too. I would do a 75% water change, that got my nitrites down to about 5 or so, then I did a smaller one the next day and it finished up in a few days!

 

[librarygirl]

+1 to what Scottyhorse said. Try doing a larger water change (as much water as you can take out), don't forget to dechlorinate, wait a couple of hours then test nitrite again. If it's still high, do another large water change. Keep doing this until nitrites are readable on the chart (<2). Then dose ammonia to 2 instead of 4 and see what happens in 24 hours.

 

[CanadianWaters]

Alright water change it is!
Thank you for your help I appreciate it

 

[CanadianWaters]

How long does it usually take to have nitrite drop into readable levels? I am cycling my tank and did a 90% water change and am just waiting for my Nitrite to disappear.
How long does this usually take?

 

[Hholly]

It can take a few weeks after you first see the spike. Are you seeing much nitrates?

 

[CanadianWaters]

Something in between 50-110 but my test kit (liquid) says high nitrite can affect the nitrate reading.

 

[Hholly]

It's a good Time for a large water change. 70-90% so you don't have a pH crash. Also,it seems like you're pretty close to being cycled with nitrates that high.

 

[CanadianWaters]

70% water change
Nitrite dropped a bit
Nitrate didnt change

 

[CanadianWaters]

70% water change
Nitrite dropped a bit
Nitrate didnt change

When I say "a bit" I mean from 3.3 to 1.6

 

[Hholly]

If things seem stalled do another big change.

 

[CanadianWaters]

Are changes detrimental to the bacteria while cycling?

 

[Hholly]

No. Just be sure to dechlorinate.