Is there any hope.....

[shari2shop]

that my cycle will ever end????
I have a 55 gallon that I set up the first of August. 5 1/2 weeks. I have 40 pounds of live sand and 50 pounds of play sand. I have about 50 pounds of base rock. I want to add about 20 pounds of live rock but have not been able to find any I like and can afford.
So far my readings have been...
Aug 18... PH 8.2; Amm 6.0; nitrite .50; nitrate 10
Aug 25... Ph 8.0; Amm .25; nitrite 5.0; nitrate 10
Aug 31... Ph 8.2; Amm 0; nitrite 5.0; nitrate 10
Sept 7... PH 7.8; Amm 0; nitrite 5.0; nitrate 10
I posted last week when my nitrite was still high and people said I was on the right track, maybe just a week or 2 left in my cycle.
Well I tested my water again this morning and nothing had really changed, except my PH went down some. Am I doing something wrong??? Do I need to do a water change???? Do I need to add something to the water???? Will it take a while (like weeks) for the nitrite to go down or will it happen over night when it does????
I know it takes time and that I have to wait for eveything to be just right, but I would like to see some progress in my water tests.
Wondering if I'm cycling wrong...
Shari

 

[737mech]

It looks like the tank is cycling to me. You aren't reading any amo any more. Just give it some more time to settle down. "The waiting is the hardest part" Tom Petty sang it, but sometimes it's the truth sometimes
I'm not sure about your ph doing down? Maybe someone else can answer that for you. I'll give you a bump.
HTH

 

[kissiefish]

The hardest thing about my cycle was the waiting, it felt like it would never end. But hang in there, you will be like a proud parent when you go buy your first inhabitants!
~kissiefish~

 

[azeritis]

Take a water sample to the lfs or a friend with atank and test kits, just to make sure that your readings are accurate. I think it is weird that nitrite has not changed especially if there are no fish in the tank....

 

[shari2shop]

So, is it unusual that my nitirte is still high???
HELP!!! Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!
Shari

 

[bbuck_camelback]

I agree that it is unusual that the nitrite is still high, what brand of test kits are you using? It might be a inaccurate reading from the test kit, I would also get some buffer and raise the ph up to 8.2.

 

[birdy]

I have had a couple of tanks that seem to get stuck with a nitrite reading for several weeks, I don't think there is a problem, but it is never a bad idea to get your water tested at the LFS just to compair. I bet they will start to drop soon. Are you running any type of filters right now.

 

[jerseysaltwater]

i accelerated my cycle using a product called "Cycle" - I think it's made by Hagen - it's terrific, and i cycled my tank in less than 3 weeks. it gives a boost of the beneficial bacteria used to convert the ammonia and nitrite. I add a few capfuls every week as maintainance, and my parameters are fantastic. - hth - eddie

 

[shari2shop]

Thanks for the help everyone!!
I don't have a "local" FS. The closest store is about 45 minutes away. I'm going to try to get there on Wednesday afternoon and have my water tested. When I take my water what do I carry it in???? I don't want to contaminate my water before I get it to the testing.
Thanks!
Shari

 

[bbuck_camelback]

I use a large plastic ziplock bag, works really well and it doesn`t leak. You won`t need alot of water just enough to test with.

 

[buzz]

Nitrites can take a long time to subside. 4-6 weeks for a cycle is not unusual. My 100g took 4 weeks.

 

[stumpdog]

It may just be the test kit or you could still be in the cycle. Either way don't rush into it, it can be an expensive mistake not to mention it is avoidable. Let us know how the tests come out at the LFS.
Good luck-
Jeremy