Really ???

**Sandcounty** · 08-18-2012, 03:01 AM

First post here, so be gentle.

A question about cycling. Is it possible to have nitrites start falling one week after first seeing them. I had just a trace on 8/11. On 8/14 they seemed to be between 2 and 5 (This is when I started dosing half the initial dose) . On the 15th and 16th they were at 5 or above. And this evening I got 2. I tested twice because I didn't believe it.

Should I continue to dose to 2 ppm until nitrites are at zero the next day? It's a 75g tank without fish.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.

**Honey Badger 1** · 08-18-2012, 03:07 AM

Every cycle is different. Sometimes the nitrites spike and fall quickly and sometimes they take their sweet time. As long as you keep dosing ammonia and everything keeps progressing I wouldn't worry about it. Are you showing any nitrates?

**Sandcounty** · 08-18-2012, 03:12 AM

Yes, Nitrates are around 80. They could be higher, it's a very bright red.

**Honey Badger 1** · 08-18-2012, 03:53 AM

Good. The nitrates will be high because you are processing the nitrites so quickly. As long as there are no fish in the tank it is nothing to worry about. Like I said before, as long as they are there, and being processed, the cycle is progressing.

**mr mittag** · 08-18-2012, 03:56 AM

i agree. time is of the essence. nitrates can peak quite high.... all par for the course

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-18-2012, 06:14 AM

Sounds about right to me and just about a perfect cycle time wise.

**MetalMike415** · 08-18-2012, 04:49 PM

You luck dog you

still waiting for mine to drop but the ammonia is gone fast after I redose so it is chugging along just taking it's time.

**Sandcounty** · 08-19-2012, 01:54 AM

Well... It turns out that "Really ???" is a good title for this thread. I tested this evening and the nitrites are at 0. Unfortunately, the ammonia is at 1 (tested twice) after dropping to 0 for the last few days.

Any ideas why this might be? Nothing has changed. I added the same amount of ammonia, temp hasn't changed. The only thing that I can think of are the three plants in the tank do look at a little more yellow then they have. They are still in their rock wool and plastic pots. Maybe they started decomposing and are causing the ammonia to rise.

I knew it was too good to be true.

I guess we're back to the wait and see phase. Thank you all for the encouragement yesterday.

**Sandcounty** · 08-21-2012, 02:25 AM

I think that I may have figured out what the problem is. After three days of the ammonia holding steady at 1 ppm I checked the ph. It was at 6. I did a large WC which brought the ph back up to 7.6 (where it started). The ammonia is now at .5 ppm.

What does a ph of 6 do to the bacteria. Could any of it have survived or am I starting over?

**Cliff** · 08-21-2012, 02:29 AM

A low pH will slow it down. but if I'm remembering correctly here, it would take a pH of 5 or lower to kill off the bacteria

I'm not 100% sure I'm remembering the exact level correctly tho