Need advice cycling

[toaduck]

I've been cycling with ammonia (no fiis)for a week and I still don't have nitrites, however, I've had to add ammonia twice because it dropped to .5 ppm ( as instructions say). My nitrates however are 40+. I can't tell but they're somewhere between 40 to 80 but not the really maroon red color.

I am still confused as why I have not ever seen any nitrite, ever. How do I have nitrates without ever seeing nitrite. It takes about 2 days to go from 3ppm to .5 on ammonia.


I just thought I'd post and see if anyone has any more advice or thoughts.

 

[Fresh2o]

I saw that same thing. Would watch the ammonia go up (after dosing) and drop the next day but NO nitrites. I was testing once a day. Then I managed to test nitrites a few times the day after the ammonia dose and I finally caught a positive reading. The "spike" was rather short lived. This may mean the nitrite consuming BB are rather efficient in converting nitrite except when a large amount of nitrite is suddenly present. There is a slight nitrite "backup" but after a few hours they take care of it. Just my $0.02


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[ScotJudd]

I have personally never 'caught' the nitrite spike but as ammonia had become nitrate then it must have cycled through the nitrite phase. I tend to only concentrate on ammonia and nitrates now.


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[dalto]

It is common to not get a big nitrite spike. As long as ammonia is dropping and nitrate is increasing your cycle is moving forward.

 

[toaduck]

Thanks guys

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