Cycling question

Rafaelpadro24

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Hello everyone, having issue and question about my reeftank cycling. Began the cycle on 8/20/22 using Dr.Tims fishless ststem followed the instruction and ammonia was of the charts using the redreef test kit and nothing with nitrite and nitrates. It was like this for a good 2 to 3 weeks. Went ahead and bought a API test kit and continued testing. Myy tank had dry rock and dry sand. Well as of today ammonia is almost gone but nitrates and nitrites are really high for the past 10 days. What's going on am I missing something? Help anything I can do to get this going?

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Jekyl

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Do a very large water change to get your nitrate down. Easiest to do this before anything is added. I'd say at least 75% or more. After done, you're done. Cycle complete.
 
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Rafaelpadro24

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Ok, here I go again. Tested my water with 2 different test kits API and Redsea. Im on day 29into my cycling process dry rock, dry sand rodi water,Dr Tim's fishless cycling. Both test indicate low to no ammonia. Both test indicate high nitrites. But API indicating high nitrates and Redsea almost no nitrates. Anyone can elaborate on this. Am I cycled? What to do next. PS. Ph has dropped from 8.2 to 7.8.

20220918_090421.jpg 20220918_090341.jpg 20220918_090348.jpg
 

Jekyl

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Do a very large water change to get your nitrate down. Easiest to do this before anything is added. I'd say at least 75% or more. After done, you're done. Cycle complete.
This
 

Dburr1014

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Ok, here I go again. Tested my water with 2 different test kits API and Redsea. Im on day 29into my cycling process dry rock, dry sand rodi water,Dr Tim's fishless cycling. Both test indicate low to no ammonia. Both test indicate high nitrites. But API indicating high nitrates and Redsea almost no nitrates. Anyone can elaborate on this. Am I cycled? What to do next. PS. Ph has dropped from 8.2 to 7.8.

20220918_090421.jpg 20220918_090341.jpg 20220918_090348.jpg
Nitrates test is useless in the presents of nitrites.
You can do 1 of 2 things, wait for nitrite to drop and water change, or as said, water change now.
 
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Rafaelpadro24

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This is what my tank looks at the moment
 

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Rmckoy

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Ideally your cycle is done when you have zero ammonia and elevated nitrates .
you
Will get a inaccurate nitrate test with the presence of nitrites.
Years ago we would wait until there was zero nitrites but nitrates were elevated
 
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Rafaelpadro24

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Looking at the suggestions I'm getting too many conflicting answers. Some are saying wait and some say I'm done with the cycle and to do a water change. Really stumped hereon what I should do.
 

Dburr1014

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Looking at the suggestions I'm getting too many conflicting answers. Some are saying wait and some say I'm done with the cycle and to do a water change. Really stumped hereon what I should do.
Your cycle has been done.
Add a small fish or 2. Wait a few weeks before adding another.
Happy reefing
 

Dreminon

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Please do the water change before adding fish if you have not at least a 75% like you where told in this thread. with your nitrates being that high if you don't will probably kill any fish you put in there.
 
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