Cycling...test readings

**julie3340** · 08-25-2011, 10:09 PM

Hi all...

2nd week into cycle..well really 5th but kinda had to start over....just tested water and the ammonia is at 0.50 ppm and no nitrites are showing up yet. Ive been doing 50% water changes every other day. I have 4 minnows and a peppered cory....When will i see Nitrites?

Thanks =)

**dale26** · 08-25-2011, 10:18 PM

my tank reads 0 on nitrites too and i'm in my first cycle 3rd week. i thought nitrites were supposed to stay at 0?

**Fyrehawk** · 08-25-2011, 10:26 PM

Good Questions both of you. YOur NItrites really should start to come up soon. I am a little surprised that they havent already.

The following bits of info will help us a great deal:

--What size tank?
--What are you using to test with? (Example- API Master Freshwater Kit)
--How many fish are in the tank if you are using fish to help your cycle.
--And since you are seeing zeros on Nitrite what are your ammonia and nitrate readings. The OP- Julie gave us some but not all of this info.

A big tank makes for a slower cycle with fish, but it is safer for them as well.

IF you are doing fishless cycle (Which I infer that you arent) then you can control this process much more precisely.)

DONT RUSH whatever you do... doing so will likely result in dead fish or a burned out cycle.

Give us some more info and we can help.

**julie3340** · 08-25-2011, 10:49 PM

I have a 60 gallon tank....using API master freshwater testing kit

I have not tested for Nitrates yet!

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-26-2011, 12:49 AM

For a 60 gallon tank and just a couple fish to start a cycle, I'm surprised you are seeing any ammonia levels at all. I started my 29 with 14 glow light tetra, added Seachem Stability and when the tank cycled, I added a few more fish. I never had to do a water change at all.

I think I would use either Tetra SafeStart or Seachems Stability and add some more fish. (No bottom feeders.) 4 Minnows and 1 cory will began a cycle but it will be a very unstable cycle with very low levels of bacteria and may take a long time.

Did you check your tap water? Even getting .50 in ammonia would be unusual with such a small amount of stock in such a big tank.

**julie3340** · 08-26-2011, 01:14 AM

Ugggh...i don't know what to do....i will test my tap water though...see whats up with that. But i hate to keep adding fish when they are all dying. I am almost to the point of starting over, clean the tank and do a fishless cycle....

**imma24** · 08-26-2011, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by dale26

my tank reads 0 on nitrites too and i'm in my first cycle 3rd week. i thought nitrites were supposed to stay at 0?

Nitrites are supposed to stay at 0 once your tank is completely cycled - until then, if you are cycling with fish, you need to keep your nitrites as low as possible until you have nitrates & the cycle ends (then it should lower to 0 by itself). Without fish, you will have a nitrite spike which will lower itself to 0 by the time the cycle is nearing completion.

**MissKush** · 08-26-2011, 07:00 AM

I totally know how u feel!!! after I killed one fish I was like traumatized and now Its like im experiencing a case of "severe fish cycling paranoia" ... and the Nitrite level hasn't shown up in my tank either. damn elusive nitrite...

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-26-2011, 07:12 AM

I wouldn't add more fish with ammonia levels of .50, for sure, but if you can do a couple large water changes, get that ammonia way down, add a bacteria booster to neutral the toxins, then you could add a couple more fish. I'm just afraid with all that water, the little bit of bacteria those few fish are producing is hardly doing anything toward building up any bacteria to speak of.

You mentioned starting over. I assume you had fish in the tank before but I wonder if you still have high ammonia levels from having your previous fish? Did you do large water changes, bring the ammonia level back to 0 before starting over?