Nitrite dropped down and came back up after dosing ammonia

First off, thank you everybody who has answered my last posts a couple weeks ago. I really appreciated it but I've been too busy at school to log on, I know once I log on, I would spend hours to keep reading. I'm now at the last stage of my cycle I guess. Here's how it goes. The tank was set up almost 3 weeks ago with LR and live sand from the person I bought the tank from. The tank is around 85G with around 60lbs of LR and a DSB of 4in average (the original sand that comes with the tank is only about 2in deep but I added more live sand during the cycle. It has gone through the cycle like it's supposed to, ammonia spiked then came down, then Nitrite then Nitrate. Here's the thing, I bought it used so right after setting it up, there were ammonia, nitrite and nitrate present. Ammo spiked and last for a few days after the set up, then NitrIte spiked for around 10 days, during the NitrIte spike, I kept feeding the bacteria with either flake food or ACE ammonia, I kept Ammo level at around 1-2ppm. Note that the pH stayed constant at 7.8-8.0 during the time. NitrAte level acted kinda weird though, it never stayed constant, it went up and down some time during the nitrIte spike. after 10 days of the high levels of both Trite and Trate, I decided to do a large WC for around 70% of the tank. Both Trite and Trate went down after the WC. I added the Ammo for one last time for around 0,5-1ppm. I came back to test all the parameters on the 3rd day after the WC, both Ammo and Trite gone, Trate was at around 20ppm. ;D;D;D I double checked if my tank has cycled by adding another 2ppm of Ammo. Ammo was gone after only 18hrs, but the Trite stayed there at 4ppm forever. I added another 1ppm of Ammo and checked back after 12hrs. Ammo go, but Trite was at around 4ppm and Trate was sky high at around 80ppm. I just did a 25% WC and now zero Ammo, 0.5-1.0ppm Trite, and 40ppm Trate. What should I do next? I guess the Trite will come down to zero very soon, probly no later than tomorrow morning. Then should I add more Ammo or I'm good to go after the Trite hits zero again? I've been through the cycle long enough to stay patient again if needed LOL. I just wanna bring the best for my fish later on. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

I would definitely stop the adding ammonia. Your nitrogen cycle is working just fine.

Challenge the tank by adding some decaying matter and test for ammonia the day after and the next day too.

You will end up with an elevated Nitrate when all is said and done, then proceed with a water change.

 

Thank your for your response. So what I should do now is to add any decaying thing to the tank and check all the parameters every other day later for a few days. And if the ammo and nitrite stay at zero then the tank is fully cycled? What i don't understand here is that my bacteria should be able to handle that 2ppm after 24hours. I though the tank has established a heck of benificial bacteira already after the cycle but still it can't handle that much Ammo in one day. Another thing I'd like to ask is should I turn on my skimmer now or just wait till the fish added? Many thanks.

 

If your reading 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite then your tank cycle is done. I would test this with a reliable test like elos or salifert.
You can run your skimmer as soon as you start up the tank. I have always ran my skimmer through cycles also. You probably wont pull out much since there isnt much making waste in the water till you add fish.
Im assuming you have live rock in the tank already. So i would go ahead and add your first 2-3 fish and give it a month to settle in

 

You can turn on your skimmer if you like it may lengthen your cycle slightly, but it will give the skimmer time to break in. The biological filter is ever evolving, it waxes and wanes based on bio-load. If you continue to see higher values for Ammonia and Nitrite you may have staled your cycle. If that appears to be the case another water change will be in order. Give it 2 more weeks. Double check your Ammonia level against the local fish stores test. Sounds like you're doing just fine, I appreciate the patience you have shown thus far.

Edit: What stylaster said.

Moved to ------- Chemistry.

 

Thank you y'all for the responses. I just came back from school and tested my parameters. Ammo reads 0 (it's been zero sinve this morning and I just added up to 1+ppm last night), nitrite reads 0.5-1.0ppm against 2+ppm earlier this morning. The time difference between the 2 tests is only 5 hours. So I guess the bacteria is doing just fine right?

 

I would say yes that your bacteria is doing its job.

 

When the nitrite spikes it becomes toxic to the bacteria and kills it.The bacteria that converts ammonia into nitrite grows faster then the bacteria that convert the nitrite into nitrate.Add too much ammonia AND YOU GET A LOG JAM.NITRITES SPIKE AND YOU START OVER AGAIN.yOUR PROBLEM AS CHERYL STATED IS THE ADDITION OF TOO MUCH AMMONIA.Sorry for the caps.The cycle never ends. We like to think its over when we see Nitrates but the truth of the matter is it is constantly cycling as your bioload goes up or down.Which is why we always preach patience and caution.1 fish first.

 

So I can add a small bio load to the tank now? I just did the test again and both Ammo and Trite read zero I will keep clownfish and a CUC in the tank and probly more when the tank become really mature. What would you recommend please? I have about 60lbs of LR in the tank already and another 40lbs of base rock bought from a LFS that was soaked in the ro water for a few days. Only dust and some dead dry pieces of roots come out of the rock. Can i just add that 40lbs of base rock to the tank or I have to "cook" it first in a separate containter.I've heard that ppl would seed it with LR and over the time, it will turn into LR. Since my tank is new so I think i just put it in the tank along with the cured LR? Any advice?

 

The only thing living is bacteria which populates the rock (but not only the rock any hard suface the glass,sand,ph's,etc.) I would add all the rock you have now.As long as its clean it should be fine. Large cuc's are counter productive IMO. Snails and crabs can clean an amazing amount of real estate.
Fish selection can be the most difficult parts.Heres a good link to see what you like.There is a brief summary about care,and tank sizes.I will also post some of my links to help you.Good luck.

Saltwater Fish: Marine Aquarium Fish for Saltwater Aquariums

http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/minimum-tank-sizes-selection-animals-137158.html

http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hob...general-rules-successful-aquarium-126326.html