last stages of cycling

[calla]

Our 55 gallon has been in the nitrite spike for the last few days, with levels of pretty consistent 1.0 ppm. We've been doing frequent, small water changes for the sake of the fish in the tank. Today I noticed the nitrate levels had started to develop, and are at 10ppm. How much longer do you think it will take for the nitrite levels to drop now that the "nitrite eating bacteria" is obviously starting to build? .. I know doing the water changes slows this process, but feel it's worth it.

Just changed the water today and checked the nitrite levels afterwards, they still were near 1.0.

any suggestions would be appreciated :)

[zackish]

I had a similar experience in cycling my tank with the nitrites around that level. I would say a couple more days.... just make sure when you do a big water change not to stir up the gravel too much. Even though it will be "fully cycled" it will still be very weak and unstable.

[Lady Hobbs]

As the nitrite eating bacteria develops, the nitrites will start to fall......and nitrates will climb. Sometimes they fall rapidity.....others times they remain stuck for a few days.....but they will decrease until they reach 0. Then you will be ready for a large water change and your fish.

[salman]

Lady Hobbs, she is talking about nitrates not nitrites. The nitrates should get a little higher i think, and when your ammonia and nitrites get to 0, do a large water change to lower the nitrates then your all set.

[calla]

we made the mistake of vacuuming the gravel once, then I read here that you aren't suppose to during cycling and since then have stopped. Now we just siphon the water out, lately almost everyday (but only about 15%), without cleaning anything.

... hopefully it will be just a couple of more days... my pleco is itching for a bigger pad! :P

[Lady Hobbs]

Lady Hobbs, she is talking about nitrates not nitrites. The nitrates should get a little higher i think, and when your ammonia and nitrites get to 0, do a large water change to lower the nitrates then your all set.

Read her post again. She is talking of both.

[calla]

she got it... I was talking about both kind of... wondering what the correlation between when I started seeing nitrates, and when the nitrites would start to lower was. Both answers helped... Thanks

[salman]

Read her post again. She is talking of both.

Woops! Sorry! :(

[calla]

thanks guys... so far today things look about the same, but I'll check again when I get home from work. Is it ok that I do small water changes everyday or every other day to keep the nitrites down? and, when you say to do a big water change in the end to lower nitrates, how big? 50%?

also, once my tank has cycled... do you think 55 gallons is big enough for me to put the fish from the 20 gallon in? (the pleco and balas are just baby... I plan on getting them a 100 gallon as soon as its feasible.)
that would be
3 bala sharks
3 swordtails
3 black skirt tetras
2 white skirt
and 1 common pleco..


overstocked at their full potential, but ok for now?

[Lady Hobbs]

Depends on how high the nitrates are but generally they are very high after a cycle and 50% is required to bring them within the safe range.

Unless your levels are unsafe for fish, I would do no water changes unless I had to. But nitrites are even more lethal to fish than ammonia if it's possible. High nitrites cause brown blood disease which is lack of oxygen.

The bacteria that eats the ammonia up is fairly fast growing but the bacteria that reduces the nitrites take longer and can appear to be stuck at times. Annoying!! It just takes patience and before you know it, they will began to disappear and may do so almost over night.

If you don't use salt at any other time, it's said to help with gill function during the cycling process so if you don't have scaleless bottom dwellers, I would add some salt, turn your heat to 82 and aerate the tank. The heat and oxygen will help get the bacteria growing faster. And feed sparingly! Food=ammonia.

Yes, your fish will be fine in the tank after it cycles.

[zackish]

thanks guys... so far today things look about the same, but I'll check again when I get home from work. Is it ok that I do small water changes everyday or every other day to keep the nitrites down? and, when you say to do a big water change in the end to lower nitrates, how big? 50%?

also, once my tank has cycled... do you think 55 gallons is big enough for me to put the fish from the 20 gallon in? (the pleco and balas are just baby... I plan on getting them a 100 gallon as soon as its feasible.)
that would be
3 bala sharks
3 swordtails
3 black skirt tetras
2 white skirt
and 1 common pleco..


overstocked at their full potential, but ok for now?

Ya I would definetly put them in the 55 and shoot for a 100 asap. The sharks and plecos will grow pretty big so the bigger the tank the better.

[calla]

its been a week now since I originally posted this, and todays tests showed no changes. Nitrites 1.0 and nitrates just above 10. I did about a 40% water change just a little bit ago because the sharks seemed a little stressed.

this is taking longer than I thought it would. I feel really bad for the fish...though I've not once seen the swordtails show signs of stress. Wish I would have known about fishless cycling before I joined the AC..

this makes a month the tank has been running. is it suppose to take this long?