Nitrites not dropping

I started my reef tank a week ago. It's a 40g breeder with 25lbs of play sand and 50lbs of dry bulk rock. I seeded it with Instant Ocean Bio-Spira and some freeze dried krill to force an ammonia spike on the first day. I immediately got ammonia and it quickly dropped to zero by the second day (Monday) and my nitrites shot up to 5ppm. That's all normal and I was very happy about how quickly my ammonia dropped but my problem is that my nitrites have not got down at all since Monday. My nitrates are climbing close to 40ppm so I know that my cycle is going but my Nitrites are not dropping at all and I thought they would have dropped just as fast as ammonia did. What should I do? Wait till they drop or do a water change to take the nitrate down?

I'm using an API liquid master test kit and I do not have any fish/inverts/corals in this tank.

Thanks guys!

 

I would try a different kind of kit. API kits are not the greatest as far as accuracy and you may be getting a false reading. With that being said 1 week is not a long enough time and I would suggest you just ride it out.Adding at least one piece of LR will help alot. It could take as long as a month for the tank to fully cycle.Good luck!8)

 

I was originally anticipating a long cycle but when my ammonia dropped off so quickly I thought maybe it would be done and over with in a week. If not that's cool, I just wanted to know if something was wrong or if I was doing something I shouldnt be lol. I will probably buy a small piece of live rock later today.

 

It could be possible in a week but not the norm. If you are getting Nitrate readings I would say you have at least partially cycled the aquarium and your test kits may be giving you a false reading for the presence oF Nitrite. A Salifert or Red sea kit is a better option if your LFS has these maybe you could retest your nitrite. If it is indeed gone you could add a fish or your CUC.If your LFS tests water I would bring them a smaple to double check the readings you are getting.8)

 

You are too early in the cycle to worry about levels. It is what it is and let nature take its course. Forget the miracle potions and depend on mature live rock and substrate. Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby, all good things take time. Believe me, you don't want a quick incomplete, weak cycle. When it happens naturally it will be more robust and able to support the bioload, bacteria will be strong, diverse and multiply to match the load. Don't be surprised if it takes 4-6 weeks but it will be worth the wait from then on.

 

Very curious about the outcome as my cycle is somewhat similar but did not use an additive.

Did you just wait it out? How long?

Thanks!

 

1 weeks seems a little quick with out and help from LR. I just recently upgraded to a 56 from a 32. I seeded with 40lbs of LR from the old tank along with 40ish pounds new LR and 4/5 cups from. My ammonia spiked within 2 days and drooped to about .25ppm within a week. Now my Nitrites are super high around 40ppm and starting to detect nitrates. Should see 0 ammonia and very low nitrites by next week so I can transfer livestock. Id give it at least another week or two especially with no LR or no seed from a well established tank.

 

oh and make sure you have lots of flow during your cycling.

 

My cycle lasted for 2 months! , Levels we're killing me patient and my nitrates lasted a long while at 160 ppm before dropping, also my nitrites took a very long time to drop back to 0.

BTW - I did it naturally and just started with some fish flakes + the live rock die off.