2nd week of fishless cycle

[Wojtek]

Quick question for the experts out there.

I am on my second week of a 90 gal fishless cycle and I have these current nitrogen measurements, using red sea test kits

Ammonia - 0 - adding a teaspoon of ammonia is undetectable within 24 hours
Nitrite - higher than I can measure, guess around 5.0 ppm
Nitrate - also very high best guess around 50 ppm

Questions
1. Should I be adding ammonia daily, every other day? or just let it sit the way it is until Nitrite drops?
2. Should I do a water change to bring Nitrite into measureable levels?
3. Should I leave it alone and wait.

Thank you

 

[brandon429]

its most likely done

what brand of bottle bac did you use

I have never seen a bottle bac cycle from any brand take longer than ten days to complete. we aren't using the kits you're using to make that timeline, its digital kits on other tanks that make it and it transfers back to reefs that use rocks, sand, bottle bac and feed + 10 days. you would have to own the first outlier reef I've seen among five thousand cycles to not be ready



fish disease prevention is the big challenge, not the filter.

post a full tank shot so we can see your rock ratios.

the reason we don't use the kits you're using to define cycles is because they range so far off accurate measure when benched against digital ones. we only need the # of days underwater and loose description of the setup to close out any cycle/name the day it can carry a fish bioload safely. any bottle bac cycle is by day ten.

the ammonia performance though above is stellar, and directly in line with a cycling chart's ammonia line at this many days, ie you're cycled.

nitrite no longer factors in reef cycling per this article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php

 

[Wojtek]

its most likely done

what brand of bottle bac did you use

I have never seen a bottle bac cycle from any brand take longer than ten days to complete. we aren't using the kits you're using to make that timeline, its digital kits on other tanks that make it and it transfers back to reefs that use rocks, sand, bottle bac and feed + 10 days. you would have to own the first outlier reef I've seen among five thousand cycles to not be ready



fish disease prevention is the big challenge, not the filter.

post a full tank shot so we can see your rock ratios.

the reason we don't use the kits you're using to define cycles is because they range so far off accurate measure when benched against digital ones. we only need the # of days underwater and loose description of the setup to close out any cycle/name the day it can carry a fish bioload safely. any bottle bac cycle is by day ten.

the ammonia performance though above is stellar, and directly in line with a cycling chart's ammonia line at this many days, ie you're cycled.

nitrite no longer factors in reef cycling per this article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php

Thank you Brandon,

This is what I have in the tank

Cycle was started with Dr. Tims bacteria.
It was a clean start up no live rocks or sand and it consists of MarcoRocks, the sand was CaribSea dry sand, and in the sump I have 2 8x8 1 inch and 1 8x8 4 inch Marine Pure blocks.

See attached picture of rock set up.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
WM

 

[brandon429]

hey nice. that's honestly a strong ratio of rocks midwater, right in the flow zone for wastewater handling, plenty of sand too, and bottle bac that if measured on seneye would carry fish day 1. totally ready

 

[Wojtek]

hey nice. that's honestly a strong ratio of rocks midwater, right in the flow zone for wastewater handling, plenty of sand too, and bottle bac that if measured on seneye would carry fish day 1. totally ready

Ok thanks,

I'll do a nice big water change later this week and put some life in it.

 

[MnFish1]

Quick question for the experts out there.

I am on my second week of a 90 gal fishless cycle and I have these current nitrogen measurements, using red sea test kits

Ammonia - 0 - adding a teaspoon of ammonia is undetectable within 24 hours
Nitrite - higher than I can measure, guess around 5.0 ppm
Nitrate - also very high best guess around 50 ppm

Questions
1. Should I be adding ammonia daily, every other day? or just let it sit the way it is until Nitrite drops?
2. Should I do a water change to bring Nitrite into measureable levels?
3. Should I leave it alone and wait.

Thank you

Leave alone and wait. And Nitrite and Nitrate testing can sometimes interfere. Part of it depends on what ammonia solution/protocol you're using. I woudl follow their directions - but normally daily ammonia is not needed

 

[TnFishwater98]

Quick question for the experts out there.

I am on my second week of a 90 gal fishless cycle and I have these current nitrogen measurements, using red sea test kits

Ammonia - 0 - adding a teaspoon of ammonia is undetectable within 24 hours
Nitrite - higher than I can measure, guess around 5.0 ppm
Nitrate - also very high best guess around 50 ppm

Questions
1. Should I be adding ammonia daily, every other day? or just let it sit the way it is until Nitrite drops?
2. Should I do a water change to bring Nitrite into measureable levels?
3. Should I leave it alone and wait.

Thank you

Post pics