3 weeks in

[sirclintler]

I have been cycling my tank for about 3 weeks now, the system holds about 140 gal. The first week my amonia spiked at 4ppm and is now at 0ppm, my nitrites are over 5ppm and steady for the last 8 days, is this typical?

 

[thegrun]

Yes, the nitrites tend to drop back to zero fast once they do start to drop.

 

[WWIII]

My nitrites took about a week to do down, after ammonia hit zero. That was from me dosing to 5 ppm. I've been cycling for about 7 weeks. I keep re dosing my tank to 3 ppm. Got it to where ammonia/nitrite zero out in 48 hrs. Just re dosed today, hoping to get both at zero in 24 hrs or less. This is on a 320 gallon system, 200 display.

 

[scooter31707]

Agreed. They will go down and you will see an increase in Nirates.

 

[sirclintler]

once the nitrites have dropped, should I do my water change first or dose ammonia to verify the cycle had completed?

 

[homer1475]

Redose to 2 or 3ppm ammonia to see if it clears in 24 to 48 hours, if it does your complete. Then do a large water change to remove the eventual high the nitrates.

 

[sirclintler]

Thank you