Ok,
So here's the scenario..... I'm currently in the middle of my 1st ever aquarium setup. I have researched as much as I can and read through as many posts and forum discussions as I could (especially on topics relevant to me) but yet I'm at a bit of a crossroads and need to decide on my next move.
Basically I've been doing a fishless cycle since Dec 1st. I've a 180L tank with sand and driftwood in place. I've added ammonia from the start (up to 4ppm) until I saw the level decline, then I'd bump it back up. So I've followed all the basic guidelines to begin with. Now I'm at the stage where when I dose to 4ppm ammonia, by the next day, I'm back to 0 ammonia... however my nitrite and nitrate levels are both off my charts..... I have a nutrafin test kit that reads nitrites to 3.3ppm and nitrates to 110ppm. So after browsing the web and reading up on such things... I decided to perform a 120L water change.... I retook the readings an hour or so later, and my ammonia was at 0 while the other two were still off the charts (higher than 3.3 and 110). So I suppose my question is... what is actually the best step for me to take next. The reason I titled the post confusion.com is because the more I read up on the subject, the more everyone is contradicting each other.
I know patience is key and it takes time, thats not a problem for me, but I;ve also read that nitrite levels that are far too high will stall a cycle. I've read that water changes are pointless because it's a fishless cycle and I've also read that they are very important to keep the cycle going. I read that I not perform a water change, instead only dose up to 2ppm ammonia. My pH is hanging around 7.5 to 8.0 and my water is hard. I have no value for this but I know it to be true as it's an issue in the area I live. So I guess, that I'm worried about stalling the cycle or making a mess of things this far in. I just want to keep doing things right so everything is hunky dory when I am ready to add fish.
Any thoughts or recommendations are welcome. I'm sure you're all sick of reading newbie issues regarding cycling a tank, but I guess this is what a forum is all about.... plus I did try find the answers in other posts before posting this. I just find I'm going around in circles all the time....
So here's the scenario..... I'm currently in the middle of my 1st ever aquarium setup. I have researched as much as I can and read through as many posts and forum discussions as I could (especially on topics relevant to me) but yet I'm at a bit of a crossroads and need to decide on my next move.
Basically I've been doing a fishless cycle since Dec 1st. I've a 180L tank with sand and driftwood in place. I've added ammonia from the start (up to 4ppm) until I saw the level decline, then I'd bump it back up. So I've followed all the basic guidelines to begin with. Now I'm at the stage where when I dose to 4ppm ammonia, by the next day, I'm back to 0 ammonia... however my nitrite and nitrate levels are both off my charts..... I have a nutrafin test kit that reads nitrites to 3.3ppm and nitrates to 110ppm. So after browsing the web and reading up on such things... I decided to perform a 120L water change.... I retook the readings an hour or so later, and my ammonia was at 0 while the other two were still off the charts (higher than 3.3 and 110). So I suppose my question is... what is actually the best step for me to take next. The reason I titled the post confusion.com is because the more I read up on the subject, the more everyone is contradicting each other.
I know patience is key and it takes time, thats not a problem for me, but I;ve also read that nitrite levels that are far too high will stall a cycle. I've read that water changes are pointless because it's a fishless cycle and I've also read that they are very important to keep the cycle going. I read that I not perform a water change, instead only dose up to 2ppm ammonia. My pH is hanging around 7.5 to 8.0 and my water is hard. I have no value for this but I know it to be true as it's an issue in the area I live. So I guess, that I'm worried about stalling the cycle or making a mess of things this far in. I just want to keep doing things right so everything is hunky dory when I am ready to add fish.
Any thoughts or recommendations are welcome. I'm sure you're all sick of reading newbie issues regarding cycling a tank, but I guess this is what a forum is all about.... plus I did try find the answers in other posts before posting this. I just find I'm going around in circles all the time....