Cycling, Nitrite, Help, 6 weeks

Water changes during cycling is a no no. When you do the water changes you disturb and remove the bacteria that is building to stabilize your tank. Water changes will remove nitrates but rarely you will see any change in ammonia or nitrites. I would advise you to stop the water changes as there is no need for them at this point, all it is doing is putting your initial cycle behind and generally your starting it all over. Be patient, let the tank fully cycle and monitor your perameters weekly as stated. You should notice a difference in a few weeks when you discontinue the water changes.

 

O.K as i recall you started this tank about the time I started to look around here and I think then I told and or suggested that you just add what ever rock and sand you had gotten from your area ocean and add a single little yellow tailed blue Damsel and feed it sparling and spend the next 2 to 3 months just getting the water parameters stable. And since you where using wild harvested Rock and sand that a good skimmer was going to be mandatory also.

I tried then to explain the cycling process to you and anyone who would listen this can't be rushed the bacteria come and go in their own time frame thats how they have worked since the beginning of time .. They can't be rushed or duplicated in any other way.. And so-far you have managed to do everything that you could to keep shooting the tank and your self in the foot. Now at this stage I'd crank up a good skimmer and add several air stones to the sump and a good strong air pump and boil the water to release the NO2's from the water and let it be replaced with oxygen and then after you get that set up Just set back and just leave it alone for the next 6 weeks in the end the time spent now will be paid back with interest and a healthier and far less problematic system..

I made the very same mistakes 35 + yrs ago and I have seen so many other do the same thing and in the end they either change their methods and or keep fighting a loosing battle. I'm not preaching or trying to sound like a smart a$$ I'm just speaking from tried and true experiences and after setting up Hundreds if not thousands of tanks in my time I'm just trying to offer you what my experiences have taught me there is no rushing a marine system, Patiences is the most needed and least added element to any beginning marine tank.. And if you keep trying to rush this it will never settle in a fully cycle. Just keep the parameters steady and temp and add some air stones if you can ..I know it's a old low tech method but it works and its cheap..

I just like to help people find out just how simple and easy and enjoyable this hobby is and can be. And Money can't buy the biological basics of the hobby and there are no true short cuts Good luck

 

Tang. When you say boil the water. Do you mean boil the water under a fire, kettle whatever?

 

no just make it look like its boiling from the air stones Air stones can help lower Ammonias NO'2 NO'3 and Phosphates and also raises PH and remove the CO'2 aswell its the tanks best friend and over the last 15 yrs it seems a lost art and a forgotten practice.

 

There a very simple solution to your tank tin......reguardless of the issues unles it is diseasa related.....just forget the tank exists for 2 months.....most cant do that. Just put a timer on the lid of the tank....set it for 86,400 minutes.....then have a it in a reasonable manner.

 

hi there my tank took round 2 full months to cycle and i added 4 kgs of LR at the end of week 7 and it come good then. SO trust me i feel your pain!! but i know u are waiting longer, but hey im new thought i should comment! Now im having trouble gettin the tank to flouish!