HELP! My cycle is stuck!

[SuncrestReef]

Po4 is phosphates?

Yes:

PO4 = Phosphate
NO3 = Nitrate
NO2 = Nitrite
NH3 = Ammonia

I'd recommend you pick up a PO4 test kit. You'll need it even after cycling is complete if you intend to keep corals happy. Ideally you will want PO4 to be about 0.03 ppm or lower, but not at zero.

Here's a great reference on recommended water parameters for a reef aquarium: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

 

[sean rand]

Yes:

PO4 = Phosphate
NO3 = Nitrate
NO2 = Nitrite
NH3 = Ammonia

I'd recommend you pick up a PO4 test kit. You'll need it even after cycling is complete if you intend to keep corals happy. Ideally you will want PO4 to be about 0.03 ppm or lower, but not at zero.

Here's a great reference on recommended water parameters for a reef aquarium: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Sorry I forgot to mention this is a fish only tank

 

[SuncrestReef]

Sorry I forgot to mention this is a fish only tank

OK. PO4 at zero will still stall the cycling process, so it's worth testing to see if that's your issue. PO4 levels after cycling won't matter as much in a fish-only tank, but will still contribute to algae growth, so still worth testing.

 

[sean rand]

So I contacted red sea and this is what they had to say

 

[Biocube32]

I didnt know cycling could be so complicated

 

[sean rand]

I didnt know cycling could be so complicated

SMH

 

[IslandLifeReef]

@sean rand, just be patient. It is not uncommon for a tank not to follow a specific timeline in a cycle.

About your parameters:

Ammonia - 5 ppm is high, but will come down with time. Are you sure that it is 5 ppm, or is that the highest that the test kit measures. If that is the highest the test kit measures, you could have an issue with having too much ammonia in the tank.

Nitrite - 5 ppm, same question as ammonia test kit.

Nitrate - Don't bother testing this until nitrite is 0 ppm. Any nitrite in the tank will give you a false high reading for nitrate.

The advice you have been given is that you can either wait, or add Dr Timm's. Either will result in a cycled tank. No one can say which will be faster. If the answer to the ammonia test question I asked is that the test kit only goes to 5 ppm, then you may need to take additional action.

 

[sean rand]

@sean rand, just be patient. It is not uncommon for a tank not to follow a specific timeline in a cycle.

About your parameters:

Ammonia - 5 ppm is high, but will come down with time. Are you sure that it is 5 ppm, or is that the highest that the test kit measures. If that is the highest the test kit measures, you could have an issue with having too much ammonia in the tank.

Nitrite - 5 ppm, same question as ammonia test kit.

Nitrate - Don't bother testing this until nitrite is 0 ppm. Any nitrite in the tank will give you a false high reading for nitrate.

The advice you have been given is that you can either wait, or add Dr Timm's. Either will result in a cycled tank. No one can say which will be faster. If the answer to the ammonia test question I asked is that the test kit only goes to 5 ppm, then you may need to take additional action.

Ammonia is 1ppm not 5 ppm.

 

[Biocube32]

Yes or no. I'm confused with what your saying.

I think he is saying that time is that time is the best medicine no matter what you put in your tank

 

[IslandLifeReef]

So I according to red sea j shoild be dome my cycle and my levels should be 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 2 ppm nitrate. My nitrite is 5ppm nitrite is 5 and nitrate is 40ppm. So frustrated.
I stopped dosing nopax.
I ordered dr Tim's. Let's see what happens.
Any suggestions???

Ammonia is 1ppm not 5 ppm.

The last parameters you posted were 5, 5, and 40. Those are the parameters I was referring to. If your ammonia is now 1 ppm, you are fine. We can only give you advice based on the information you give us. Old or bad information equates to old or bad advice.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So I according to red sea j shoild be dome my cycle and my levels should be 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 2 ppm nitrate. My nitrite is 5ppm nitrite is 5 and nitrate is 40ppm. So frustrated.
I stopped dosing nopax.
I ordered dr Tim's. Let's see what happens.
Any suggestions???

Be patient.

All you need is zero Ammona and nitrate.

 

[sean rand]

The last parameters you posted were 5, 5, and 40. Those are the parameters I was referring to. If your ammonia is now 1 ppm, you are fine. We can only give you advice based on the information you give us. Old or bad information equates to old or bad advice.

Sorry that was a typo.

 

[sean rand]

OK. PO4 at zero will still stall the cycling process, so it's worth testing to see if that's your issue. PO4 levels after cycling won't matter as much in a fish-only tank, but will still contribute to algae growth, so still worth testing.

So I just brought over a sample of my water to my friend who has a P04 tester and here r the results

 

[sean rand]

So I added dr Tim's 2 days ago and my numbers are still crazy. I'm using the red sea test kit it said I have 1 ppm nitrite (that's the highest it tests untill) nitrate is 50ppm and ammonia is 0ppm.
With api test kit it said 5ppm nitrite 40 ppm nitrate and 0ppm ammonia . What should be my next step??? Large water change?

 

[sean rand]

So I added dr Tim's 2 days ago and my numbers are still crazy. I'm using the red sea test kit it said I have 1 ppm nitrite (that's the highest it tests untill) nitrate is 50ppm and ammonia is 0ppm.
With api test kit it said 5ppm nitrite 40 ppm nitrate and 0ppm ammonia . What should be my next step??? Large water change?

Sorry ammonia on both tests were 1ppm

 

[sean rand]

Anyone?? Lol

 

[sean rand]

So I did a 40 gallon water change and my ammonia is 0 , nitrite is 2ppm and nitrate is 20ppm. Is it safe to add fish?

 

[sstanley223]

So I did a 40 gallon water change and my ammonia is 0 , nitrite is 2ppm and nitrate is 20ppm. Is it safe to add fish?

Wait until nitrite is 0

 

[sean rand]

Wait until nitrite is 0

Its cycling for a long time and I cant get nitrite to 0. Water changes does not help. Do what to do

 

[Biocube32]

It sounds like you have been cycling for about 30 days now according to your first post. On a side note, I also started cycling a new tank on January 24th. Havent checked in a few days, but pretty sure I still have an ammonia level. I added a couple frozen shrimp on the first day to start the cycle. I did not use any special bacteria stuff and we are on pretty much the same cycling time frame. Cycling a tank from scratch is normal to take up to six weeks. Patience will go a long way in this hobby. You are almost there.