New Aquarium Cycle

[donnieb07]

Started 75 gal tank, after amonia went to 0ppm, nitrites were sitting at 10+ppm, read that I should do a 75% water change because after 4ppm it can halt the cycle. Now currently sitting around 2ppm after 24 hours. Question is when should I do another 75% water change? Or should i be good until they hit 0?

 

[tmccaff]

dont do nothing till it hits zero. What is NO3 reading?

 

[donnieb07]

Ab 40ppm

 

[tmccaff]

Do you have livestock in tank? Remember to keep feeding bacteria if you have no livestock. Once No2 hits zero do a 75% water change to lower No3 to safe levels.

 

[donnieb07]

Do you have livestock in tank? Remember to keep feeding bacteria if you have no livestock. Once No2 hits zero do a 75% water change to lower No3 to safe levels.

No livestock

 

[exnisstech]

You have NO3 so it's safe to slowly proceed IMO

 

[Cell]

We are not concerned about nitrite in saltwater tanks. We want to see ammonia being processed. Once we see ammonia being processed down to 0, we can start stocking slowly.

The only reason you would need to perform a water change during a cycle is if ammonia got way too high. You can perform one after your cycle if your nitrates are too high.

 

[Cell]

Also, you can't accurately measure nitrate in the presence of nitrite so don't believe your nitrate measurement until nitrite goes down.

 

[tmccaff]

Well NO3 is present so ammonia is being converted. Let it run its course. No2 eventually will go to zero and No3 will rise. Don't forget thought to keep feeding some source of ammonia to feed the bacteria. Once Ammonia/NO2 is zero do a water change to lower NO3 to acceptable range. You should shoot for 3-5 ppm NO3.

 

[Cell]

Well NO3 is present so ammonia is being converted. Let it run its course. No2 eventually will go to zero and No3 will rise. Don't forget thought to keep feeding some source of ammonia to feed the bacteria. Once Ammonia/NO2 is zero do a water change to lower NO3 to acceptable range. You should shoot for 3-5 ppm NO3.

Nitrite does not need to be gone for marine animals, that is a freshwater thing.

The bacteria won't starve or go dormant after just a few weeks. An initial dose of ammonia to get the cycle started is sufficient. Another dose to test ammonia processing is fine. Ongoing ammonia does not need to be provided here.