Cycle question.

[emtguy]

My ammonia went from 8.0 to 0 in 5 days but my nitrites and nitrates are the highest color on the API card (5.0 and 160 i think) and they have not changed at all. Is this normal. I have posted before and everyone said leave it be and let it cycle, which i am doing, but i would think i should see some drop dont ya'll?

 

[ray28576]

You should be seeing the nitrite drop soon.

 

[earlybird]

Is it possible that you tested wrong. 8.0 is dangerously high. If it went this high its possible that all or most of your critters in your LR are dead. Most people do water changes if their ammonia reaches 1.0 during the cycle as anything more than 1.0 is considered dangerously high. What kind of test kit are you using?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by earlybird
Is it possible that you tested wrong. 8.0 is dangerously high. If it went this high its possible that all or most of your critters in your LR are dead. Most people do water changes if their ammonia reaches 1.0 during the cycle as anything more than 1.0 is considered dangerously high. What kind of test kit are you using?
I agree, it's probably a good idea to change out some water, and keep in mind when you have live rock that if the ammonia goes above 1ppm then some of the hitchhikers will die. The nitrates won't test properly when you have nitrites, so don't even bother testing for that until your nitrites reach 0. Also, it's helpful to get a second opinion sometimes. If you can, take a water sample to your LFS and get them to test it (in front of you) and show you the results.

 

[emtguy]

Using API kits. Tested ammonia with 2 diff. API kits. I dont have any media fiter but a sponge and ceramic balls. I do have filter floss purigen and chemi pure elite to put in after the cycle has completed.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by emtguy
My ammonia went from 8.0 to 0 in 5 days but my nitrites and nitrates are the highest color on the API card (5.0 and 160 i think) and they have not changed at all. Is this normal. I have posted before and everyone said leave it be and let it cycle, which i am doing, but i would think i should see some drop dont ya'll?
If you allowed your ammonia to spike that high thn it is not abnormal for the nitrite and nitrate to be that high. Do some water changes to bring the readings down. API kits can only read as high as the charts go. All three likely went higher than the charts. Do some water changes.

 

[emtguy]

Thanks for responding.
I have been told to do a 10% WC and i have been told to just let it be that the tank will cycle it just might take a bit. I have the patience to wait but i am confused as to who is right and who is wrong. Change some water or dont?
Is it that both are right? Maybe WC will help speed up cycle where as waiting and not changing water will give me the same results it will just take longer???? Im lost

 

[emtguy]

P.S. didnt really allow it to spike. Put tank together tue night. Checked levels Wen. night and amm. was off the chart high.