I just don't understand

[nfored]

Ok i understand how cycling works, ammonia spike, then nitrite spike followed by a drop in ammonia, then finally nitrate spike followed by a drop in nitrite.

my tank has been cycling for 6 weeks now, ammonia has been at 0 for about 2 weeks nitrite dropped from +5 to 2ppm 1 week ago. For the last week its been at .50ppm and my nitrate in that same 2 week perieod hhas gone from 5ppm to 20ppm.

So basicly at the end of week 5 nitrite dropped from 2ppm to .50ppm and nitrate wen from 5ppm to 10ppm. Now at the end of week 6 nitrite is still at .50ppm but nitrate is at 20ppm, how is it possible to have the nitrates keep climbing but the nitrite to stay the same if it can drop from 2ppm to .5ppm in one week shouldn't the next week make it drop to 0.

 

[Ianab]

Are you still adding ammonia to the tank?

If you are then thats being processed into nitrite, then into nitrate. The second stage hasn't quite built up to full speed yet though.

Give it another week, make sure ammonia and nitrite both drop to zero, do a large partial water change (to reduce the nitrate level) and add some fish.

You are almost there.

Ian

 

[ewurm]

Agreed, it can take up to four weeks, depending on the filter you have and stocking level.