fishless cycle...high nitrites

[captainahab]

Is it possible for the nitrites to go so high as to kill the bacteria?

Doing fishless cycle, and the nitrites just keep climbing. Way off the scale but appears to be around 7ppm.

 

[rolandk10]

When did you first notice the nitrites start to climb? how many days ago?

What is the ammonia and nitrate readings? Last tank I cycled, 125, the nitrites hit about 5. (I keep logs. Sick, I know )

I took about 4 days from the start of the spike until it settled down and the nitrates started climbing.

As for your question about killing the bacteria. i don't know the answer to that.

 

[NEWB1E]

What product are you using?

How long have you been using it?

 

[captainahab]

Nitrites went from 2 to 5 in 24 hrs, then jumped to the 7 in next 24hrs. Ammonia readings are kinda weird because I'm feeding it. Since nitrites took off, trying to keep ammonia at 1 ppm. I have found reference to others getting nitrites up in the 7 and 8 ranges, so we'll see. Should start back down today.

Logs; well I am normally that OCD but didn't ! It's been about a week. Nitrates are in the 10 range, so things are moving in the right direction.

 

[captainahab]

5 days straight of nitrite readings off the chart, appear to be 7ppm. Bacteria is consuming around 1ppm of ammonia per day. Did water change yesterday and added more bacteria, no apparent change overnight.

What's the best way to bump this crazy thing?

 

[pacu mom]

5 days straight of nitrite readings off the chart, appear to be 7ppm. Bacteria is consuming around 1ppm of ammonia per day. Did water change yesterday and added more bacteria, no apparent change overnight.

What's the best way to bump this crazy thing?

Colonization of the nitrite consuming bacteria takes the longest time in the fishless cycling process. Don't do any water changes until you have 0ppm nitrites and your nitrates are sky high. The water change should be only to get rid of nitrates. It took over
a month to fishless cycle our tank. We have never had a nitrite reading in the 5 1/2 years since cycling the tank. While it takes a while to colonize, the bacteria are very hardy. Just be patient....it will happen.

 

[rolandk10]

Captainahab, what fish is that in your profile pic?

 

[captainahab]

rolandk10, that's an electric blue jack dempsy-firemouth-benga-betta !!!! In other words, a photo shop special.

 

[rolandk10]

Ok...haha. I like it

 

[Spyder001 USA]

I wasnt doing a fishless cycle. Just a feeder-fish cycle for my RTC in my 100 gal.

After 2 days of not having any bacteria I added "Special blend" and "Nite-Out 2". Levels never "Spiked" higher then 1 PPM for nitrite and 2.0 PPM for ammonia. I checked twice a day, kept a log, and did my first water changes when nitrates hit 40 PPM

Though more then my dilligent work i feel like the "Special blend" and "Nite-Out 2" where the best cycling products i ever used.Compared to API's stress zyme that did absolutelly nothing.