my tank is now cycling for over 5 weeks now. the ammonia has gone up and down, and has stayed down for the last week. The nitrite is up and hasn't gone down, while my nitrate has gone from 0 ppm to 20 ppm and back to 0 ppm. Is this normal for the nitrite to stay up and have the nitrate go up and back down? I have the api saltwater test kit. Could it be because of inaccuracy testing? I have used a dead shrimp method to cycle the tank, with dry rock... Any ideas....
cycle issue
- Thread starter cam08
- Start date
RogueGrown
New member
What have you done to the tank to start the cycle? Did you dose ammonia or feed an empty tank did you add anything living in it?
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gone fishin
New member
I would not worry about the nitrate testing right now. It is a good possibility that the nitrite can give a false reading on the nitrate.
I have not personally used the bio-spira product, some folks swear by it. If your ammonia went to 4ppm then the bacteria colonies are being produced. IMO experience Nitrite takes longer to recede than the ammonia.
I have not personally used the bio-spira product, some folks swear by it. If your ammonia went to 4ppm then the bacteria colonies are being produced. IMO experience Nitrite takes longer to recede than the ammonia.
I would say you are getting closer than you think. I would wait a few more days and then test again. I cycled my last tank in 2 1/2 weeks. The ammonia dropped fairly quick but the nitrite took about another 5-7 days to drop to zero.
I used a Brightwell brick and seeded it with MICROBACTER7 for two weeks as they recommended. It worked very well for me.
I used a Brightwell brick and seeded it with MICROBACTER7 for two weeks as they recommended. It worked very well for me.
