aquarium bacteria cycling question for experts?

Question

I recently started a tank, after not doing fish for a few years. My ammonia has gone down to zero . That is testing just before the daily water change. The nitrite and nitrate are a different story. They have been stuck at 2 ppm & 20 ppm, respectfully. They have been this high for several weeks. This seems high to me, even for cycling my tank, but I don't think I should get rid of it ALL. Wouldn't that make the bacteria for the nitrite die or at least not multiply? Also What level should I try to keep them at? I understand zero is the target but what about during your initial cycle? Am I wrong in thinking that I want to have a little bit left in there to encourage bacteria growth?


Thank you.

Answer 1

You are exactly right that you need some in the tank to have additional bacteria growth. It's not uncommon for the nitrite to nitrate part of the cycle to be a few weeks behind the ammonia to nitrite part and even to be slow in completely growing out. It sound like you are coming along in fairly normal progress personally. The nitrite level is boarderline. I would rather see it around 1 ppm for the health of the fish. The nitrates are just fine, nothing at all to worry about there. I would suggest a series of small water changes to lower the nitrites a bit. Consider the type of fish you have and your current tank temperature and see if an increase of a few degrees in the tank temperature is possible, that might jump start the bacteria into completing the cycle. Also, lightly stir the surface of your gravel every few days to move bacteria colonies around a bit, that might encourage additional growth.

I am assuming you have an adequately sized power filter for the tank. Right?

MM

Answer 2

I know everyone has their own methods of cycling their tanks which work for them, in my experience if you just leave your tank alone and let it go through its cycle and possibly remove any carbon in your filters this may help eliminate all nitrites. And no you dont want to have any ammonia or nitrites in your tank, this should only happen during the initial cycling process. Nitrites at 2 are a little high keeping them under .4 is ideal and nitrates under 40 or 60 is good. So i would just try leaving the tank alone feeding minimally and removing carbon and see how that does for you in the next week to see if the nitrites lower.

Answer 3

you said daily water changes? you shouldnt be changing your water daily that may be the reason for your problem. do you have fish in the tank or are you doing a fishless cycle? During the cycle there are a few stages.
1) amonia goes up
2) amonia keeps going up and nitrite rises
3) nitrite keeps riseing and amonia depletes
4) nitrate begins to rise and nitrite depletes
5) nitrate should then deplete
the bacteria is what breaks down these toxins so possibly by doing your daily water changes you are removing some of this bacteria needed to let the tank cycle.
Please give more info as to what size tank what fish are in there and anything else that you can think of.

Answer 4

Ok, do not worry about the nitrates if it is a freshwater tank. For the nitrites, I would get a product at a local petsmart, or petco that locks the nitrites making them non-toxic. Test your water again, and check to see if nitrites are zero, and nitrates if its saltwater. Then when they are zero, do a 20% water change, and you are set. If it goes back up, make sure to add the lock, and do the change sometime in that week

Answer 5

one million. you do no longer want a product to point ph, and it won't artwork besides 2. . in spite of the fact that 8 is severe, it is going to be high quality for many fish. in case you had to do discus, or angels or different softwater fish, you will use a opposite osmosis clear out for truly some the water, or between the organic complication-free approaches to minimize alkalinity and pH, like peat moss. 3. try kits are attainable once you're discovering to hint how the tank reacts and by skill of checking the nitrates, extra desirable elect your water replace era and quantity. 4. Your tank remains biking , do no longer purchase fish on an analogous time as the tank is biking. 5. Lose the goldfish whilst the tank is wholesome except that's what you like on your tank. 6. Use Novaqua as a water conditioner. you will no longer want as much as prevalent, yet there are metals in maximum water components. It additionally provides a slimeyness to the water that's sensible to the fish. 7. maximum folk attempt to speed, and overfeed in the process the cycle which purely makes it worse. would desire to be over quickly. It takes 6 weeks for the tank to be wholesome. 8. Water alterations are variable. do exactly no longer do extra suitable than approximately 30% of the water at everybody time. extra suitable water alterations can replace the chemistry adequate to marvel the fish. some human beings do smaller quantities extra in many situations, relies upon on the fish, yet maximum folk can do 20-30% month-to-month. in the process the cycle some human beings will do a water replace a week to attempt to maintain the ammonia or nitrite ranges down. in simple terms feed much less and you would be wanting much less issues. 9. get a siphon gravel cleanser; purely a hose with a sparkling tube. gently vacuum the gravel , do no longer stir all of it up, and once you get close to to eliminating 25% of the water, then cease.

Answer 6

Hi -

do you have any plants in your tank - floating and/or planted plants?

They'll help with the nitrate and nitrite levels - to keep them down. Anacharis is a good one for tanks. It will also oxygenate the water. I think it's one of the best.

Good Luck,

Ken