High nitrates during cycle

[Jpcrash1]

Hi, I am cycling my tank with base rock. I brought ammonia to about 4 ppm. It is about a month in my cycle and nitrites are .50 and nitrates are 160 ppm. Will my nitrites and nitrates go down on there own? My ammonia is zero .

 

[tkeracer619]

You will need to do a couple large water changes to bring nitrates down. It takes a long time for anaerobic bacteria to form. I probably wouldn't worry too much about it right now. Showing nitrites you still have time until the cycle is complete.

You probably should still dose some ammonia to keep the bacteria fed. I wouldn't go to 4ppm though. Maybe dose enough to register on a test kit 30 minutes after dosing.

 

[JUNBUG361]

Agree ^^^

 

[mcgyvr]

disagree... There is absolutely NO need to keep feeding the bacteria ammonia.
Its just going to make you have to work even harder to get those sky high nitrates down..

Dosing a tank once to 2ppm is plenty.

But yes your nitrites will go down (probably within the next week).. And more than likely your nitrates will not and you will need to be doing multiple 50% water changes or more to get it back down to a suitable level..

 

[sde1500]

Adding more ammonia will only make for even higher nitrates. Pretty sure the bacteria won't starve after a few weeks of no additional ammonia.

 

[mcgyvr]

Pretty sure the bacteria won't starve after a few weeks of no additional ammonia.

Correct...It certainly will not

 

[thegrun]

Agreed, NO MORE Ammonia!!! The bacteria will easily live over a year without food (ammonia), adding more ammonia will make a bad situation worse. It should be noted that the presence of nitrites throws off the nitrate test results. Wait for your nitrites to zero out, if your nitrates are still high make a large water change then.

 

[ajoe]

disagree... There is absolutely NO need to keep feeding the bacteria ammonia.
Its just going to make you have to work even harder to get those sky high nitrates down..

Dosing a tank once to 2ppm is plenty.

But yes your nitrites will go down (probably within the next week).. And more than likely your nitrates will not and you will need to be doing multiple 50% water changes or more to get it back down to a suitable level..

^

Also, ..no need to run any lights during the cycle. If you are turn them off and leave them off. Ambient room light is plenty.

 

[Dr. Reef]

once initial ammonia is introduced to a startup tank about 2ppm is plenty and then there is no need to keep dosing ammonia or if you placed a frozen shrimp or fish in tank time to pull it after 2ppm and let the tank run its course.

 

[blackout2k]

I was having the same problem at 1st but they are right about large water changes and no more ammonia. I have a 125 gal' tank for 6 months now and man i tell you what, water changes help out a lot.

 

[scooter31707]

^

Also, ..no need to run any lights during the cycle. If you are turn them off and leave them off. Ambient room light is plenty.

I like running mines during the cycle as it will make the diatom phrase come and go quicker.