Please help me get some nitrites! 29 gallon fishless cycle....

[pugmom]

ammonia is zero - I seem to be converting 2-4 ppm in about 12 hours or so....
thanks!

 

[jlk]

That's great!!

 

[pugmom]

crumbs, still sky high nitrites this am. I guess I am headed for another massive water change today....(and ammonia)

 

[jlk]

The nitrite phase typically takes twice as long as the ammonia phase. What you can do is after a wc, drop your ammonia dose down to 2ppm until your nitrite>nitrate bacteria catch up. You then can work on gradually increasing it without the nitrites going crazy once everything is up to speed. Keep us posted!

 

[pugmom]

thanks - I dosed to 2 ppm tonight after a water change that brought the nitrites down to approx 1 ppm. We shall see how it goes.
*twiddles thumbs*

 

[pugmom]

the usual - yesterday after water change and ammonia dosage -
ammonia = 2.0
nitrite = 1-2 ppm
nitrate = 10-20 ppm

today
ammonia = 0
nitrite = 2-5+
nitrate = 40-80 ppm

similar to my last large water change last week

it looks like the nitrite is converting, correct? just not enough to drop the total in the tank?

 

[jlk]

Thats great! Your nitrites are definitely being converted! They are just not quite up to speed to see a definite drop in 24hrs. Skip the ammonia for today if you havent dosed yet. If you have, no big deal. Your getting very close!

 

[pugmom]

thanks jlk, I am hopeful. Will skip todays dosage and hope for a drop tomorrow....

 

[pugmom]

still sky high nitrites and nitrates today. I know I should probably do a water change, but I feel like death today, so I am guessing just an ammonia addition

 

[TangoTank]

yeah, I must be swimming in nitrites....on to my 3rd major water change with the last one being about 85-90% and still super high (2-5+ I can never tell the diff once it goes to the pinkish purple) nitrites. Nitrates went from off the charts to 10-20 ish with the last water...

took me TWO almost 100% WC's (syphoned it down below the gravel) to get the NitrItes down. I think getting that extra 5% out helps. I'm sittin at .25ppm now.

 

[jlk]

Did the nitrates increase from yesterday?

 

[blert]

still sky high nitrites and nitrates today. I know I should probably do a water change, but I feel like death today, so I am guessing just an ammonia addition

Remember, just like it takes a person time to change a slice of pizza into, well, you know, it takes the bacteria time to convert one thing to another. Today's nitrate was ammonia like three or so days ago.

 

[pugmom]

Did the nitrates increase from yesterday?

hard to say - I have such a problem reading the nitrate chart colors. I would say darker, but not off the charts.

going to dose another 2ppm ammonia today....if no drop tomorrow then I will attempt another large water change (?) to get nitrites readable again....

blert - love the analogy.

 

[jlk]

Darker is good! Hang in there- your very close!

 

[pugmom]

about the same as yesterday, off the charts nitrites, nitrates about the same.

Skip another ammonia dose? PWC?

 

[pugmom]

still high 5+ nitrites today and 160+ nitrates. (0 ammonia)
Just did a 90% water change....

nitrite = 0.25-0.5 ppm
nitrate = 5-10 ppm

Will be dosing to 2 ppm ammonia today....

 

[jlk]

Sounds good! Keep us posted!

 

[pugmom]

same stuff different day......
nitrites = 5+ (were like this when I checked last night and today)
nitrates up = 40-80.

I just don't get why I am not seeing a nitrite drop. My java fern is dying, not sure if that is adding to the problem or is a result (high nitrites.)
either way, I am grumpy.

 

[librarygirl]

Don't worry, all is good! You started seeing nitrite about two weeks ago, right? The nitrite phase is the longest, typically taking about 3 weeks before they fall (mine took 2.5), so just hang in there a bit longer!

 

[pugmom]

thanks - right now I am dosing ammonia every other day, should I keep up that routine? Also the ton of PWC?