jarrod0987
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2005
- Messages
- 512
It sounds like your adding too much ammonia which is probably killing the type of bacteria that turn Nitrite into Nitrate. They don't like ammonia. That's why they don't start multiplying until ammonia is starting to cycle already. Here is what I would do. To make things easier for you do many small water changes instead of a massive one. Do them until you have low levels of Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. Now you can see what is going on. Next make sure that you have no Ammonia or nitrite. If you do then wait until you don't have either one. Only then add a tiny amount of ammonia. Maybe only 1or 2 drops per gal. If it registers on the ammonia test you added too much. This ammonia should clear in a day. You may see nitrite the next day. If you do then DON'T add more ammonia. When Nitrite is gone then add a tiny bit more ammonia. Keep doing this until there is no ammonia or nitrite within 24 hours. As far as nitrate goes then anything under 10ppm is just fine. It is supposedly non toxic up till 80ppm. The main thing is to see if it is at a stable level or keeps rising. Denitrification is an advanced subject and a whole thread by itself. PM me if you want my help. I have done extensive experiments on this subject.
EDIT: Also you can always add a little more bacteria in a bottle each day to help things along. Don't use filter floss during this time as it is counter productive. It removes the bacteria you are adding before it can attach to the bio media and rocks.
EDIT: Also you can always add a little more bacteria in a bottle each day to help things along. Don't use filter floss during this time as it is counter productive. It removes the bacteria you are adding before it can attach to the bio media and rocks.