Need help .... cycling process

[bing_ph]

I started last Sept. 18 and this is the 8th week of the cycling process. As of this morning water parameters read as follows ( API test kit )

Salinity - 1.025
PH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20 ppm

Added 6 pcs of snails ( DT )last week and a small chaeto ball in my sump. All is doing well.

My NITRATES does not seem to go down and stops at 20 PPM. Is there something wrong?

Thanks.

 

[MasterBacon]

It takes quite a while for the anaerobic bacteria to populate and start bringing the nitrates down. Chaeto the size of a softball will also take a while depending on your tank volume.

 

[MasterBacon]

Did you do a large water change after your cycle? Start there and let the chaeto keep it low vs. large removal.

 

[Brew12]

I started last Sept. 18 and this is the 8th week of the cycling process. As of this morning water parameters read as follows ( API test kit )

Salinity - 1.025
PH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20 ppm

Added 6 pcs of snails ( DT )last week and a small chaeto ball in my sump. All is doing well.

My NITRATES does not seem to go down and stops at 20 PPM. Is there something wrong?

Thanks.

To remove large amounts of nitrate you either need to have rapid algae growth (such as chaeto) or a deep sand bed. Converting nitrate to nitrogen gas requires special conditions that don't exist on a large scale in most tanks. That is why most of us use chaeto and/or water changes.

 

[bing_ph]

Did you do a large water change after your cycle? Start there and let the chaeto keep it low vs. large removal.

thanks !

will be doing a 20% water change later in the afternoon.

 

[bing_ph]

To remove large amounts of nitrate you either need to have rapid algae growth (such as chaeto) or a deep sand bed. Converting nitrate to nitrogen gas requires special conditions that don't exist on a large scale in most tanks. That is why most of us use chaeto and/or water changes.

sand is just 2 inch deep....hope the chaeto will grow and not die out on me ...

thanks appreciated that!

 

[Brew12]

sand is just 2 inch deep....hope the chaeto will grow and not die out on me ...

thanks appreciated that!

Chaeto is tough stuff. You give it lighting it and will live if your fish do. It just takes awhile to grow enough for it to make a difference. Until then, water changes are your friend.

 

[bing_ph]

Chaeto is tough stuff. You give it lighting it and will live if your fish do. It just takes awhile to grow enough for it to make a difference. Until then, water changes are your friend.

Just checked on my chaeto while doing my water change and to my surprise it grew and got bigger from the original size. Hope this is a good start.

Your inputs @Brew12 is much appreciated.

 

[Brew12]

Just checked on my chaeto while doing my water change and to my surprise it grew and got bigger from the original size. Hope this is a good start.

Your inputs @Brew12 is much appreciated.

Glad to help! And it does sound like you have gotten off to a good start!