Cycling tank woes

[LemonEddy]

Hi, i have been my cycling my tank for a month already, i had my usual ammonia spike, and nitrite spike so i thought was right on track. Right now my ammonia reading has been 0. But my nitrite level since then last week has been high and my nitrate now has spiked. Nitrite and nitrate remains high and off the chart of my API test.

Is there some kind of a problem with my water? :/

[erikokelf]

Patience is the key, else it might be a faulty test kit that you are having.

[mitchell.liang.9]

+1 to what erikokelf said. Since your ammonia level has decreased to 0. It will take time for nitrite to slowly go down as the bacteria colony is building. Mine took about 1 and a half months to cycle. But thats because i kept throwing in dead prawns to make sure my system is able to bring ammonia and nitrite down to 0 within 24 hours. Just leave the tank alone for maybe a week and test it after. Either that or your test kit could be faulty or expired. All the best and update when everything is settled!!

[LemonEddy]

Thankss! But is it normal for me to have such a high Nitrate level too?

[tofubox]

All depends on how much decaying organic matter u have in the tank bro

[Angel Keeper]

Just take note that most parts of SG has a nitrate level of 25... It's normal to hit 40 during cycling...

[iskay]

Nitrate is the end product of the ANN cycle. It will continue to pile up unless exported (via water change or other methods). In a tank that had completed cycling, Ammonia and Nitrite must be zero or near zero.

[CFOh]

Hi, i have been my cycling my tank for a month already, i had my usual ammonia spike, and nitrite spike so i thought was right on track. Right now my ammonia reading has been 0. But my nitrite level since then last week has been high and my nitrate now has spiked. Nitrite and nitrate remains high and off the chart of my API test.

Is there some kind of a problem with my water? :/

Follow below video for ANN cycle profile..

Try Microbe-lift product to improve your new tank water quality.

Cheers and Happy Reefing.

[Planted]

For a normal fish-less and maybe a few flakes or pellets type of cycling, it took me about 6 weeks. Few weeks more than freshwater.

Add some beneficial bacteria, and since u are at nitrite state, use microbe lift nite - out II. It contains nitrification bacteria which is what your tank is cultivating now. Follow dosage and add more doesn't harm. It speeds up cycling very fast.

Freshwater takes about 4 weeks for full cycling to complete, my personal experience with that product + OF beneficial bacteria, speeds up freshwater cycling and completes in 1 week.

With freshwater, it took me about 2-3 weeks with such products to complete cycling. If you are not adding anything, 1 mth isn't enough.

[mitchell.liang.9]

Thankss! But is it normal for me to have such a high Nitrate level too?

Nitrate can go as high as it wants depending on how much decaying is happening. For my 40 gallon with 2 rotting prawns from shengsiong the highest it went was 40.

[LemonEddy]

Wondering if anyone can enlighten me what is this on my live rock?

[iskay]

Mini feather duster worm. Harmless.

[lyeheng]

Patience is the key, else it might be a faulty test kit that you are having.

100% agreed. Patience is the key

[LemonEddy]

Hey guys. Thank you guys. Mt nitrite had a sudden drop 2 days ago from above 5.0 to 0.25. But it had stayed there for the past 3 days. Is it likely due to a faulty test kit? Using API.

[Planted]

Like a Yay! Haha. Use reactor or de nitrator to remove the rest

[mafacifa]

dose bacteria in a bottle like microbacter7 or atm's colony. u can cycle in less than a month. good luck

[LemonEddy]

Yay. Thanks for all your help guys. Nitrite zero. Time to do a water change and get dome clean up crew for my tank

[Planted]

Voila! And don't over add in 1 shot. Sudden surge in bioload can mess ur tank too. But I suppose cleaner crew's waste not so scary.. just an advice that I heard from past experienced reefer.

[calvin f.h]

I do agree that patience is the key. Try do slight weekly water change and put a capful of baterial which can be bought from reef shop. All the best bro