should I do a big WC now? Im still figuring out the fishless cycle process. Nitrites are off the charts but I am getting nitrates which I know is good. SO WC or let it keep going?
Fishless Cycling(high nitrites and getting nitrates)
- Thread starter juneblood3
- Start date
I just got in the hobby a few months ago and didn't cycle tank properly (uneducated rookie mistake lol) but i think you want to wait
I made the same mistake. Make sure you do a water change. You always want all your water parameters measurable. I believe there is a point if your nitrites are to high, it'll start killing bacteria off. I let mine go for awhile and I had to do 4 50% water changes (1 per day) just to even be able to measure it. I'm pretty sure other peeps will chime in here.
Took me 5 weeks to cycle my 125g. Had my fish for almost a week now =) you'll be there soon.
Took me 5 weeks to cycle my 125g. Had my fish for almost a week now =) you'll be there soon.
The short answer is No. I wouldn't do a w/c.
Given the variety of answers you are getting perhaps a little clarification would help.
How big is your tank ?
How many days have you been cycling ?
How much ammonia are you adding daily ?
How many ppm of ammonia are you aiming for daily ?
How many days did it take to see a trace of Nitrite ?
How many days did it take to see a trace of Nitrate ?
Last but not least, what is your definition of "Nitrites are off the charts" IE PPM ?
What type/brand of test kit are you utilizing ?
The chart offered by Whiteboi_J is the same one I use and is fairly accurate relative to initial variables.
This should help to clarify where you are in the process.
As an example, I recently fishless cycled a 100 gallon tank in 23 days from start to finish and did no water changes. My opinion is, if fishless cycling is done correctly W/C's are unneccessary.
Given the variety of answers you are getting perhaps a little clarification would help.
How big is your tank ?
How many days have you been cycling ?
How much ammonia are you adding daily ?
How many ppm of ammonia are you aiming for daily ?
How many days did it take to see a trace of Nitrite ?
How many days did it take to see a trace of Nitrate ?
Last but not least, what is your definition of "Nitrites are off the charts" IE PPM ?
What type/brand of test kit are you utilizing ?
The chart offered by Whiteboi_J is the same one I use and is fairly accurate relative to initial variables.
This should help to clarify where you are in the process.
As an example, I recently fishless cycled a 100 gallon tank in 23 days from start to finish and did no water changes. My opinion is, if fishless cycling is done correctly W/C's are unneccessary.
i cycled my 125 in 14 days doing a fishless cycle. i didnt do any waterchanges until the end. the key is to never let ammo get over 2-3pmm. after u start to see nitrite back off on the ammo dosing 1-2pmm) so u dont have a crazy nitirite spike. if u keep your ammo level to high during the whole cycle u will end up with a ton of nitrate when your finished, then u will need a massive waterchange. i only had to change 25%/
^^^ I read one of the sticky's and did the 5 ppm thing. I'm pretty sure that's how my nitrites got out of wack... Then the nitrates followed.
So I think his question above is, should he do a WC...
I will do the 2-3ppm cycle next time. This was my first fishless cycle.
So I think his question above is, should he do a WC...
I will do the 2-3ppm cycle next time. This was my first fishless cycle.
its a 240 been cycling 15 days(i used some filtered media also) I was adding 4 ppm per day until I started getting nitrites and nitrates about a week ago. I add 2ppm per day until yesterday. As of today and not adding any ammonia yet today and yesterday i just tested my water and ammo was .50 ppm Nitrites were 10 ppm and nitrates were between 20 and 40 ppm. Im using API testing. I over dosed ammo 5 days ago and did a 35% water change to get it back down that may have something to do with it but the nitrites were already above 10ppm then.
looking at the chart again I think I might almost be done. Quick Q though Im running just a wet/dry right now thats only passing through the media 2 times every hour. Ive been waiting to setup an FX5, i want the cycle to finish first, and have left the media for it in filter bags inside an established 110. Would it be okay to setup the FX5 now? or keep waiting?