WHAT TO DO NOW

slick

slick

Active Member
My tank has been cycling for 3 wks and I tested my water and this is what I got ammonia is at 0 but the nitrate and nitrite are both way high. I mean off my chart so do I do a water change. Or should I just let it be?
 
slick

slick

Active Member
Thanks Richord so those levels will go away in about how much time. I'm not being impatient just wondering. Thanks again.
 
ed r

ed r

Member
The timing depends upon the source of ammonia. Is it a continuing source or a one-time deal? Most people don't believe in using damsels any more because of the risk of killing them, but they would provide a continuous source of ammonia. If you put in uncured live rock, it would build up to a peak value of ammonia added to the water, then it would tail off to zero as the curing proceeds. Most tanks complete the cycle within 4-6 weeks. You may be very close to it completing. Once the nitrite starts to come down, it goes to zero within a couple days. Test regularly. I never measured that high of nitrates in my tank at any time. I did have high ammonia, followed by high nitrite, but when I started checking the nitrates (did not check these until the nitrite started down), they were zero. As long as your nitrates return to near zero at the end of the cycle, that is what counts. If they don't, then start looking for a source of that nitrate.
 
rick58

rick58

Member
Yup, wait. Once your nitrites are zero is when I would consider a water change. However, if you are in no hurry, you can wait a little leaving those nitrates at a higher level to help start up the anaerobic bacteria that consume nitrates (and create nitrogen) and get some algae going befor you introduce your clean-up crew.
I would not wait for your Nitrates to get to zero, you could be waiting a long, long time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top