End of Cycle Question

RDuhb · 01/06/2013, 05:37 PM

After about a month of cycling my reading were 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 2 nitrate. I started ghost feeding my tank to maintain the beneficial bacterial until I get fish, which will be in another month or so. I noticed today that my nitrite went up to .01 and my nitrate is 5. Ammonia remains at 0. Is it normal from me to starting seeing nitrite again? BTW, I added the flake food yesterday. Thanks!

MinuteJohn · 01/06/2013, 08:10 PM

I wouldn't think adding a little food would kick off another mini-cycle. Are you using an accurate test kit? Even if it did though, you mentioned you're not adding fish for another month which should be ample time for everything to stabilize.

b0bab0ey · 01/06/2013, 08:45 PM

How many times have you tested, and gotten 0 ammonia & nitrites? Sometimes you can get lulled into thinking that your cycle is 100% complete by one or two readings.

SushiGirl · 01/06/2013, 10:03 PM

Probably the food you added created ammonia and it's working its way through it again. What did you originally cycle with, ammonia-wise?

RDuhb · 01/07/2013, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Probably the food you added created ammonia and it's working its way through it again. What did you originally cycle with, ammonia-wise?

I kicked off the cycle with two raw shrimp.

RDuhb · 01/07/2013, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

How many times have you tested, and gotten 0 ammonia & nitrites? Sometimes you can get lulled into thinking that your cycle is 100% complete by one or two readings.

I tested four times over a nine day period and had 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 2 nitrate. A couple days after ghost feeding my nitrite went to .01 and nitrate to 5.

wooden_reefer · 01/07/2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDuhb

After about a month of cycling my reading were 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 2 nitrate. I started ghost feeding my tank to maintain the beneficial bacterial until I get fish, which will be in another month or so. I noticed today that my nitrite went up to .01 and my nitrate is 5. Ammonia remains at 0. Is it normal from me to starting seeing nitrite again? BTW, I added the flake food yesterday. Thanks!

You are doing OK.

If the ghost is big enough you will get some nitrite, but if you keep doing so in anohter week there will not be nitrite.

Nitrite once will be followed by nitrite none. Problem fixes itself. Ease.

wooden_reefer · 01/07/2013, 05:20 PM

What is the purpose of doing so many tests?

If you have never cycled before, it is educational to plot a graph of ammonia and nitrite, and may be even nitrate.

But the truth is that not many tests are needed when using the fishless method of cycling.

The ammonia processed is known to you since you added it. You need only to prove that nitrosnomous (ammonia to nitrite) and nitrobacter (nitrite to nitrate) exist significantly. When both types exist, and there has been enough ammonia, and the physical setup is correct, you will have a cycle within 4-6 weeks. Just check for coming and going of nitrite; when nitrite is gone, cycle is complete.

RDuhb · 01/07/2013, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooden_reefer

What is the purpose of doing so many tests?

If you have never cycled before, it is educational to plot a graph of ammonia and nitrite, and may be even nitrate.

Well, I personally didn't think that was alot of tests. But anyway, I tested to see the impact the ghost feeding would have, if any.

wooden_reefer · 01/07/2013, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDuhb

Well, I personally didn't think that was alot of tests. But anyway, I tested to see the impact the ghost feeding would have, if any.

Actually, I think that this is a very good attitude! You will be OK in terms of cycling. You have the right idea in general.

The number of tests needed is really a minor point. Later, as you have done this often, you will also know to reduce the number of needless tests.

The ammonia release from what you put in during cycling and in ghost feeding can be calculated or predicted accurately enough.

hillbillybjopkr · 01/07/2013, 10:24 PM

when i set up my tank for the first time.....ever doin saltwater...i tested everyday soon as I got home from work....just water live rock and sand....watched the ammonia,nitrites, nitrates spike after 3 weeks.....a week later they calmed down.....added 3 saltwater mollies....spiked again after a week.......3 weeks later i was gettin 0's across the board...started addin more critters.....have been fine ever sence......moral of the story.....patience is the key to this hobby.....a lil extra time to let nature do it's thing never hurts

p.s. i test now every couple weeks..usually right befor i do a water change

RDuhb · 01/07/2013, 11:02 PM

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback!!

fjpod · 01/08/2013, 02:05 AM

I'm a bit of a contrarian. I believe your tank is never really cycled until you have fish in it. Certainly, it is good to get your cycle started with ammonia or shrimp, but a fish will produce a "different" kind of waste, requiring a "different" strain of nitrifying bacteria, thereby setting off another cycle.

A month of "artificial" cycling is enough. Put in one small hardy fish, not as a sacrificial lamb, but as a tank buddy, and monitor your parameters closely. Add more livestock as you see your parameters stabilize. Each addition will trigger a mini cycle.

fjpod · 01/08/2013, 02:06 AM

sorry, double post

01/06/2013, 05:37 PM	#1
RDuhb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 366	End of Cycle Question After about a month of cycling my reading were 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 2 nitrate. I started ghost feeding my tank to maintain the beneficial bacterial until I get fish, which will be in another month or so. I noticed today that my nitrite went up to .01 and my nitrate is 5. Ammonia remains at 0. Is it normal from me to starting seeing nitrite again? BTW, I added the flake food yesterday. Thanks! __________________ And I thought my remote control airplane hobby was expensive...silly me!!

01/06/2013, 10:03 PM	#4
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Probably the food you added created ammonia and it's working its way through it again. What did you originally cycle with, ammonia-wise? __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

01/07/2013, 11:02 PM	#12
RDuhb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 366	Thanks everyone for all the great feedback!! __________________ And I thought my remote control airplane hobby was expensive...silly me!!

01/08/2013, 02:05 AM	#13
fjpod Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 80	I'm a bit of a contrarian. I believe your tank is never really cycled until you have fish in it. Certainly, it is good to get your cycle started with ammonia or shrimp, but a fish will produce a "different" kind of waste, requiring a "different" strain of nitrifying bacteria, thereby setting off another cycle. A month of "artificial" cycling is enough. Put in one small hardy fish, not as a sacrificial lamb, but as a tank buddy, and monitor your parameters closely. Add more livestock as you see your parameters stabilize. Each addition will trigger a mini cycle. __________________ Frank Current Tank Info: 14 gal Biocube, mixed reef.

01/08/2013, 02:06 AM	#14
fjpod Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 80	sorry, double post __________________ Frank Current Tank Info: 14 gal Biocube, mixed reef.

01/06/2013, 08:10 PM	#2
MinuteJohn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: P.S.N. Posts: 71	I wouldn't think adding a little food would kick off another mini-cycle. Are you using an accurate test kit? Even if it did though, you mentioned you're not adding fish for another month which should be ample time for everything to stabilize.

01/06/2013, 08:45 PM	#3
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	How many times have you tested, and gotten 0 ammonia & nitrites? Sometimes you can get lulled into thinking that your cycle is 100% complete by one or two readings.

01/07/2013, 05:20 PM	#8
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	What is the purpose of doing so many tests? If you have never cycled before, it is educational to plot a graph of ammonia and nitrite, and may be even nitrate. But the truth is that not many tests are needed when using the fishless method of cycling. The ammonia processed is known to you since you added it. You need only to prove that nitrosnomous (ammonia to nitrite) and nitrobacter (nitrite to nitrate) exist significantly. When both types exist, and there has been enough ammonia, and the physical setup is correct, you will have a cycle within 4-6 weeks. Just check for coming and going of nitrite; when nitrite is gone, cycle is complete.

01/07/2013, 10:24 PM	#11
hillbillybjopkr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Toledo Wa. Posts: 89	when i set up my tank for the first time.....ever doin saltwater...i tested everyday soon as I got home from work....just water live rock and sand....watched the ammonia,nitrites, nitrates spike after 3 weeks.....a week later they calmed down.....added 3 saltwater mollies....spiked again after a week.......3 weeks later i was gettin 0's across the board...started addin more critters.....have been fine ever sence......moral of the story.....patience is the key to this hobby.....a lil extra time to let nature do it's thing never hurts p.s. i test now every couple weeks..usually right befor i do a water change