Cycling a new tank

[Phistick]

update

update

I believe I was incorrectly testing the nitrates when I used the test kit. I watched a youtube video on the test kit and it cleared that up.

Currently PH=8, Am = 0, Nitrites 2.0, Nitrates 5-10.

I did a 50% water change yesterday. How do I continue to get that nitrite number down? More water changes or just time?

 

[mcgyvr]

No friggin way you still have nitrites..
You sure you are using that test kit properly?

and FYI.. With a 50% water change nitrites would have dropped 50%.. IF they did not then your testing is flawed..

You also mentioned a piece of live rock... If you did that there is 100% no way you still have nitrites present..
The tank MUST be cycled already and you are just measuring incorrectly or whatever..
No way its not cycled by now.. no way..

 

[Phistick]

I have a QT tank as well that is cycling and I use the same test kit. I test both tanks back to back and the readings in each are completely different so I'm sure the testing is accurate.
The DT nitrites are 2.0 and the QT is .25
I don't know why the nitrites are hanging around.
I'm not running any charcoal on the DT. Would that help out at all?

 

[Phistick]

I didn't add the live rock. My LFS doesn't carry it. I haven't made it across town to Petco.

 

[Easy E]

No friggin way you still have nitrites..
You sure you are using that test kit properly?

and FYI.. With a 50% water change nitrites would have dropped 50%.. IF they did not then your testing is flawed..

You also mentioned a piece of live rock... If you did that there is 100% no way you still have nitrites present..
The tank MUST be cycled already and you are just measuring incorrectly or whatever..
No way its not cycled by now.. no way..

I agree with mcgyvr 100%. There is something wrong with the nitrite test. The fact that you get a result of 2 on all your recent tests would support this. I would suspect 2=0 with this test kit.

I think it's safe to go ahead and add one fish at this point. I suggest maybe a yellowtail or azure damsel. They are pretty, stay small, and are not real aggressive. They can also tolerate less than ideal water conditions.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk