Hey guys,
SO I've been cycling a 90 gallon tank (eventually for African cichlids) for about a month now. I started by dosing 4ppm of ammonia. About two weeks ago the ammonia dropped and nitrites showed at about 1ppm. Since then I have been dosing the ammonia up to 4ppm every time it falls to 1ppm. The nitrites were hanging around at about .25-.50. The last time I tested I had Ammonia at 1ppm and my nitrites were 5ppm or more. Nitrates are showing as a bright red color. I am using the API liquid test kit. I assumed my bacteria for breaking down nitrites were working and converting to nitrates but now I finally have this spike.
So finally -- my question -- ammonia is dropping pretty fast. BUT I'm not sure what to do at this point. Now that I have sky high nitrites and nitrates...should I do a water change?? should I just leave it?? I'm kind of at a point where I'm not sure what to do and really don't want the cycle to stall or get messed up so close to completion. Thanks so much for reading and any help would be awesome. Thank you!!
SO I've been cycling a 90 gallon tank (eventually for African cichlids) for about a month now. I started by dosing 4ppm of ammonia. About two weeks ago the ammonia dropped and nitrites showed at about 1ppm. Since then I have been dosing the ammonia up to 4ppm every time it falls to 1ppm. The nitrites were hanging around at about .25-.50. The last time I tested I had Ammonia at 1ppm and my nitrites were 5ppm or more. Nitrates are showing as a bright red color. I am using the API liquid test kit. I assumed my bacteria for breaking down nitrites were working and converting to nitrates but now I finally have this spike.
So finally -- my question -- ammonia is dropping pretty fast. BUT I'm not sure what to do at this point. Now that I have sky high nitrites and nitrates...should I do a water change?? should I just leave it?? I'm kind of at a point where I'm not sure what to do and really don't want the cycle to stall or get messed up so close to completion. Thanks so much for reading and any help would be awesome. Thank you!!