Tank Cycling Question

Yes. You should never allow the Ammonia to exceed 5ppm. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria grow much faster then Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. High levels of Nitrite make them grow even slower.Heres the link Pgoodsell was talking about. Good info on cycling.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/drtims-aquatics/one-only-s-129435-6.html

 

Thanks for the link I had looked for it but couldn't find it. I think I'm back on the right track with my cycle now just have to wait out the nitrites now. Was glad to see the nitrates go up like that at least now it shows they are starting to convert.

 

How high is too high of a nitrite level during cycling? I initially added 2ppm ammonia to my tank about a week ago, the ammonia level is now starting to approach zero, but my nitrite levels are at least 5ppm according to the API nitrite test kit.

When my ammonia approaches zero, should I dose it back up to 2ppm assuming there are still nitrites present in the tank? My nitrates are between 20 and 40ppm according to the color chart.

 

I would definitely try Dr. Tims one and only... I used it and it cycled my tank in 4 days.
Setting up a new aquarium: Ammonia Removal: One And Only Nitrifying Bacteria by Dr Tim's Aquatics

 

I actually initially seeded my tank with a bottle of Dr. Tim's along with the 2ppm of ammonia. I have seen many people swearing by the product so have little reason to doubt that it would work, however, I have reason to believe that it more than likely froze during transit, killing all the bacteria. I probably should have ordered it from Dr. Tim's site directly but I didn't so it never got packaged properly in something that would prevent it from freezing. At this point, my ammonia is approaching zero, so I will probably just sit back, not do anything, be patient and let the cycling continue on its own.

 

Hi
You would have been better off cycling the rock in another container not the tank, once the nitrite reaches off the chart readings it's nearly impossible to get them back down again, and if you dont keep feeding the ammonia eating bugs they will die back.

I'm currently doing the same thing with 50 kilos of rock (I've never see anything on here doing it this way so I opened a thread) this is week 4 for me and I plan to do a 100% water change on it this weekend, that way I'll be able to see exactly how fast the rock can now convert a given amount of ammonia to nitrite and on to nitrate.

Good luck with it.