Nitrites and Cycle

Seriously,

My Nitrites have been peaked for over 5 days and it is starting to worry me. My ammonia has spiked and droped already but my Nitrites are staying on the extream high side. Nitrates are starting to slowing show up but I really want the cycle to move along.

People have told me that they should drop within a week but now I am getting worred.

 

What reading are you getting? Ammonia typically peaks and drops before the nitrites do, because there are roughly 2 types of bacteria at work. The first converts ammonia to nitrite. The second converts nitrite to nitrate. The first bacteria needs to be getting stronger before the second can, because you can't have nitrate without having nitrite first, and you can't have nitrite without having ammonia first.

It sounds like your cycle is moving along as it should. Peaking nitrites along with Nitrates showing a reading is a good sign. As your nitrites drop, the nitrates should increase.

Someone else can chime in please. I now those two types of bacteria have a name...and I'm not sure if I missed anything or not. Soooo...

 

It is maxxing out the reading on my API test. 5.0ppm is the highest it will read.

I have a Damsel in there and it is doing fine eating well swiming around etc..

Nitrates are reading about 40ppm

 

Sounds like you are having a normal cycle. Assuming you do not have an overload of fish in your tank, things will even out. It will happen. Trust me. The nitrites will start coming down and the nitrates will increase, then decrease some, then start to increase. At the second increase, you are considered cycled.

Now, every tank is different. My tank NEVER showed nitrites, just ammonia and nitrates. Some appear to cycle in a week or two. Others tank 12 weeks or longer. There is sooooo much variablility that a description of a proper cycle is really nothing more than an approximation,

 

I think I am fine too I am seeing Diatoms everywhere which I know is common for a new tank. At least I think they are diatoms.

Anyway I know I am just being impatient but dammit !@!@1

 

Yeah, I know brother......It's hard. And yes, those are diatoms, or actually the dead skeltetons thereof. Once they exhaust the silicates in their water supply they will die off for good. If they ever come back later on when your tank is mature, you need to figure out the source of the silicates. Often from tap water, or tap water filtered with bad RO filters.

 

Our cycle completely skipped diatoms and went to hair algae. Which is dying out now. It should get obliterated in a matter of days since we installed the new skimmer that is complete overkill for our tank size

 

Your cycle is going along normally. If you have diatoms, you should start thinking about starting your cleanup crew, but not until those nitrates come down a little. Just start planning, it'll pass the time that it takes to cycle the tank.