Is my cycle stuck?

MugiwaraPanda

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Hi, I have recently purchased and begun to construct a hello reef 15 gallon clownfish and anemone tank. I began cycling the tank about a week and a half ago and used the dr Tim’s one and only nitrifying bacteria and used ghost feeding as my source of ammonia with the included fish food. I have noticed that I’m at the point in the cycle where my ammonia is pretty much non existent, but I have been stuck at 2.0 nitrite for almost a week and wasn’t sure if I was doing anything wrong or if this is normal?

I attached a picture of the different tests I have done over time to test my cycle progress.

IMG_2898.jpeg
 

exnisstech

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Seeing the presence of nitrate I would slowly move forward. I've read nitrite can give false nitrate test results but I've never had a problem slowly moving forward when I see nitrate. I don't test ammonia or nitrite tho its not a bad idea to dose some ammonia and make sure its processed in 24 hours.
 
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MugiwaraPanda

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Seeing the presence of nitrate I would slowly move forward. I've read nitrite can give false nitrate test results but I've never had a problem slowly moving forward when I see nitrate. I don't test ammonia or nitrite tho its not a bad idea to dose some ammonia and make sure its processed in 24 hours.
So you recommend that I dose with ammonia and see if it gets processed within 24 hours. And if it does then I’m good to continue with adding fish, even if there is still nitrite that isn’t appearing to cycle to nitrate?
 

exnisstech

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If you want to be positive that ammonia is being processed that is the safest way. Nitrite is not harmful to saltwater life so it's really not a concern other than it can give false Nitrate test results. Personally I don't even own a nitrite or ammonia test kit but I have a few years under my belt with quite a few tanks cycled Just testing nitrate so my method may not be the best if your new and confirming ammonia is being processed is probably best and what many people do.
 

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