Cycle Stuck?

fireykat04

fireykat04

Member
I am wondering if anyone has ever had a cycle get stuck? Sounds crazy but, my ammonia has been at zero for over a week and half, the Nitrites don't seem to be converting to Nitrates. The Nitrites are at 5.0 and the Nitrates don't seem to be going up past 10. The Nitrates about a week ago did spike to about 40 but seem to be coming down instead of converting? This is going on week 5 of the tank cycling and I did post the live rock disaster thread. Not sure if this has anything to do with it.
It's a 65 gallon, running a Fluval 404 filter, a marine land power head 606 with a Bak Pak 2 skimmer. Salinity is 1.024, temp 79-80. Plus I can't seem to get my PH past 7.9. I haven't added anything to get the PH up yet. I wanted it to cycle and see what happened, but I swear it's stuck? :eek:
 
jobob

jobob

Member
what kind of test kit r u useing? did u try doiin a water change? the skimmer are taking the nitrates out. thats y u arent seeing them.
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
you could run the skimmer but I would'nt till the cycle is done. Also I would not add any kind of chemical to the tank...just let nature take its course...it will happen when it is ready. If the nitrite kit you used showed 40 at one point and now is at 5 that tells me the test kit is working some what. I have had kits that showed 80ppm on the nitrates and have done 50% water changes...come to find out I took someone on this sites advice and purchased another kit and it was at 10ppm. I was surprised at how high it was reading because I take very good care of the tank....but my kit was bad. Buy another kit....before a water change or take it to the LFS and have them test it. Good luck :happy:
 
fireykat04

fireykat04

Member
I'm using the Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I just stopped the skimmer. I am new to skimming, I didn't have one on my previuos set up years ago. I didn't know that the skimmer removes Nitrates. Makes sense. That means the skimmer is definitely working.. LOL I have not put anything like the biozyme in to cycle the tank. I was just letting it do it's thing. How much of a water change would you recommend? I'm off to the LFS today so I will definitely take the water and see if they will test it there. Thank you for the feed back! :)
 
jobob

jobob

Member
well i would let it go for a couple days first with the skimmer off. and add some biozyme. then after about a week if ur haveing problems still then do a water change of 10%. but wait and see im sure u will see a differnece.
 
fireykat04

fireykat04

Member
After turning off the skimmer, the Nitrites are coming down and the Nitrates are going up. Seems to be back on schedule! I'll keep you posted. :)
 
fireykat04

fireykat04

Member
jobob, it worked great. The cyle has completed and I put in the cleaning crew!! Now I just need to get the skimmer adjusted again. I think the Bak Pak is a temperamental thing!!! I wish I had found this place BEFORE I bought the skimmer! :jumping:
 
jobob

jobob

Member
thats good to hear. now all u need is some fish!!!lol yea i think most skimmers need some adjustment in the beinging. once the break in period is over it should be ok.
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
the skimmer are taking the nitrates out. thats y u arent seeing them.
Protine Skimmers remove Nitrate??? :notsure: :notsure:
Also, why would running the skimmer stop the NO2 from turning into NO3
 
fishmamma

fishmamma

Active Member
I think the skimmers remove waste that would be converted to nitrate, therefor when you run a skimmer your nitrate levles stay in check. No effect on ammonia (I think).
Am I right on this?
 
fireykat04

fireykat04

Member
jobob, just a quick note to let you know; it made it. The tank finally cycled. It's been a week or so and all levels are zero!!! The skimmer finally settled down also! Like you said time for fish and I couldn't resist these two adorable guys. Thanks for the advice on the skimmer!
Here's a pic of my first happy fish. I'm probably more happy than them though! :jumping:
 
jobob

jobob

Member
sorry my computer was struck by lightning. by fish r lookin good. glad to hear eveything is doing well.
 
fireykat04

fireykat04

Member
Thanks! The dead rock is very ugly; but, the water quality seems to be good so far. I'm going to give it a couple more weeks before I add anything else. The cleaning crew is staying busy trying to clean the rocks. :yes:
Sorry to hear about the computer. That couldn't have been good!
 
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