6 weeks ago I began to cycle my 90 gallon DT (w/ 20 gallon sump) using dry rock. I used Dr Tim’s bacteria, which I’ve always had great success with, and of course ammonium chloride. Dosed it to 2ppm like usual. A few days in and I had a nitrite reading of 2ppm and .5 ppm ammonia. Good. Waited and tested again. Ammonia at 0, nitrites at 3-3.5ppm, nitrates at 10. Good again. Dosed 2ppm ammonium chloride. Very similar results (but with higher nitrates) the next few days but nitrites would not go down to 0. Waited a couple days but no movement. Added 5lbs of live rock to the sump in hopes to get something going. No change. Added more bacteria and seeded again with ammonium chloride. Now my ammonia goes to .5ppm in 24 hours but my nitrites don’t go down until about 48 hours. Am I missing something? All my other tanks would go to 0 for both within 24 hours..
(PH has been consistent at 8.0, salinity stable at 1.023. The only thing different is my temperature is a bit lower than I’ve kept my other tanks at 78-79. Could this be why?)
(PH has been consistent at 8.0, salinity stable at 1.023. The only thing different is my temperature is a bit lower than I’ve kept my other tanks at 78-79. Could this be why?)