I have had a successful 20 gallon saltwater tank for many years. I am starting a 30 gallon saltwater tank with fishless cycling. My chemistry has been stuck for several days and I don't know what to do.
I am on Day 26 of cycling. I started with Dr. Tim's Ammonia Chloride and my Ammonia level was at 4 by Day 3. It has been at zero since Day 12. I used Stability to introduce bacteria. My Nitrites rose to at least 5 (it may have been higher, but that is the top of the API scale) by Day 9. It was still at 5 when I began measuring Nitrates on Day 13. They have been rising and falling between 5 and 20 (Day 22) and have been at 10 for two days now. There was a spike in measured Nitrites of 160 on Day 16. I don't understand that at all since it was a one-off.
For the last 4 days, I have been at 0 Ammonia, 2 Nitrites, and 10 Nitrates as best I can read the API charts. I keep waiting for the Nitrites to drop further and/or the Nitrates to rise, but neither is happening. I have read numerous forums and websites online and get this advice: 1. Be patient, do nothing; 2. Do a partial water change; 3. Don't do a partial water change; 4. Add Ammonia to continue to feed the Ammonia-eating bacteria 5. Don't add Ammonia.
Anybody?
Thanks
I am on Day 26 of cycling. I started with Dr. Tim's Ammonia Chloride and my Ammonia level was at 4 by Day 3. It has been at zero since Day 12. I used Stability to introduce bacteria. My Nitrites rose to at least 5 (it may have been higher, but that is the top of the API scale) by Day 9. It was still at 5 when I began measuring Nitrates on Day 13. They have been rising and falling between 5 and 20 (Day 22) and have been at 10 for two days now. There was a spike in measured Nitrites of 160 on Day 16. I don't understand that at all since it was a one-off.
For the last 4 days, I have been at 0 Ammonia, 2 Nitrites, and 10 Nitrates as best I can read the API charts. I keep waiting for the Nitrites to drop further and/or the Nitrates to rise, but neither is happening. I have read numerous forums and websites online and get this advice: 1. Be patient, do nothing; 2. Do a partial water change; 3. Don't do a partial water change; 4. Add Ammonia to continue to feed the Ammonia-eating bacteria 5. Don't add Ammonia.
Anybody?
Thanks