BBradbury
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- May 24, 2011
- Messages
- 5,011
The Tank Cycling Process
Hello D...
Just be patient. The cycling process can take a couple of months. The ammonia bacteria is still working to make nitrites. In time, the microscopic "nitrite" bugs will start converting the nitrites into nitrates. There aren't any bugs for removing nitrates, so that's your job. You remove those with large, weekly water changes.
Get some plants into the tank during the next water change. Planting is a little easier with the water level down. Plants love nitrogen rich water.
Keep checking for ammonia and when your test shows a trace, then change out 25 to 30 percent of the water. This will be enough to get the water chemistry back into the "safe zone".
Keep pluggin' away.
B
Hey guys. It's about the 5th week now. It seem like nitrites aren't registering on my water test.
My ammonia is around .25 - .50 with daily water changes. Nitrites aren't registering and neither are nitrates. It's the 5th week so it seems really odd to me. Any suggestions on why?
Hello D...
Just be patient. The cycling process can take a couple of months. The ammonia bacteria is still working to make nitrites. In time, the microscopic "nitrite" bugs will start converting the nitrites into nitrates. There aren't any bugs for removing nitrates, so that's your job. You remove those with large, weekly water changes.
Get some plants into the tank during the next water change. Planting is a little easier with the water level down. Plants love nitrogen rich water.
Keep checking for ammonia and when your test shows a trace, then change out 25 to 30 percent of the water. This will be enough to get the water chemistry back into the "safe zone".
Keep pluggin' away.
B