nitrates in cycle

Simon68 · 07/15/2008, 09:27 AM

My tank has cycled
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
But Nitrates are 40-80, did a 25% water change got them down to 20.
Should I just keep doing water changes every few days? Anything else I should do?
I have a fuge with a chaeto ball (lot's of hair algea in fuge but only a little in DT)
What's my next step here.
I do have a clean up crew and bunch of hitchhikers and throw in's from TBS, (It's TBS live rock) and everything seems to be doing pretty well.
What's next?
Thanks so much, this place has been such a help to me in this hobby, I can't even express how much!

mray · 07/15/2008, 09:29 AM

With time, large pieces of rocks and a deep sand bed will grow anaerobic bacteria which will convert your nitrates into nitrogen.

joeychitwood · 07/15/2008, 09:36 AM

How old is the tank?

Simon68 · 07/15/2008, 09:55 AM

Tank is 5 weeks old.

joeychitwood · 07/15/2008, 10:01 AM

I'd give it some more time. Your tank is still very young.

Playa-1 · 07/15/2008, 10:05 AM

I agree, you should give it more time.

Simon68 · 07/15/2008, 11:00 AM

I am happy to give it as much time as possible. But what should I do in the meantime? Nothing? Water changes?
Thx!

Aquarist007 · 07/15/2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Simon68
I am happy to give it as much time as possible. But what should I do in the meantime? Nothing? Water changes?
Thx!

Randy H-F suggests that less frequent 30 percent water changes are the most effective way at bringing nitrates down.
If your nitrates are high then I would do as the others say and wait--it just indication that your cycle isn't finished. If you go to all the trouble of water changes the nitrates will come back untill the bacteria have effectively cycled enough to take care of it

Are you sure of your test kit and measurements--your nitrates are a little high at the 5 week period

peterpaul · 07/15/2008, 11:32 AM

seems to me that your tank is still cycling. just get it time. if the nitrate levels is at 20 I will leave it and monitor the levels. it should go down with the live rock and sand you have in your tank containing the benificial bacteria to break it down. if nitrates go higher then that then do a few more water changes

Simon68 · 07/15/2008, 12:32 PM

Nitrates have been at 20 steady since I did the 25% water change. So I will sit tight and wait. How long does it normally take for it to get to 0 on it's own.
I am patient, I can wait all the time in the world, just curious what I am looking at in terms of wait time.

Aquarist007 · 07/15/2008, 12:37 PM

cyling usually takes 3-5 weeks but it depends alot on the cured state of the life rock.
Remeasure in a week---that would be six weeks and they be down by then.

Simon68 · 07/15/2008, 12:38 PM

Ok, great. Thx so much Capn!

joeychitwood · 07/15/2008, 12:42 PM

Patience is one of the most important aspects of reef keeping.....and one of the hardest. It's an exciting hobby, and we usually can't wait to get the tank looking like a Tank-of-the-Month. It's tempting to buy too many fish too soon and to rush the maturation of sandbeds and live rock.

Be patient. Your tank will last as many years (or decades) as you desire. If it takes a week or a month more, let the tank cycle fully, and then move on. Don't worry. Almost all of us have been in your shoes.

Aquarist007 · 07/15/2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Simon68
Ok, great. Thx so much Capn!

not a problem--be sure and post back in a week and update your progress

shuguley · 07/15/2008, 12:45 PM

I'm in the same boat as you, but my tank is 4 weeks old tomorrow. My Nitrates got up to about 35 by the end of week 3, I changed about 50% of the water which brought them down to 20. Tomorrow will be one week since I did that and my ammonia and nitrites are still zero and my nitrates are still 20 and I'm still waiting.

Simon68 · 07/15/2008, 03:48 PM

100% Joey, I have no problem with patience. I will wait it out, tested again just now and nitrates holding at 20, so we'll wait!

Shuguley - good luck to your tank as well, I will post back in about a week to see where I am at, you should do the same as well since our tanks are about even in the cycle.

Aquarist007 · 07/15/2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joeychitwood
Patience is one of the most important aspects of reef keeping.....and one of the hardest. It's an exciting hobby, and we usually can't wait to get the tank looking like a Tank-of-the-Month. It's tempting to buy too many fish too soon and to rush the maturation of sandbeds and live rock.

Be patient. Your tank will last as many years (or decades) as you desire. If it takes a week or a month more, let the tank cycle fully, and then move on. Don't worry. Almost all of us have been in your shoes.

your tank has not been nominated yet Dr. Joey

(Dr's are suppose to have alot of patients---oh boo

}

joeychitwood · 07/15/2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
your tank has not been nominated yet Dr. Joey
(Dr's are suppose to have alot of patients---oh boo }

My tank might be named the best 54 gallon corner reef tank in south central Becker County, but's that's about it.

07/15/2008, 09:27 AM	#1
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	nitrates in cycle My tank has cycled Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 But Nitrates are 40-80, did a 25% water change got them down to 20. Should I just keep doing water changes every few days? Anything else I should do? I have a fuge with a chaeto ball (lot's of hair algea in fuge but only a little in DT) What's my next step here. I do have a clean up crew and bunch of hitchhikers and throw in's from TBS, (It's TBS live rock) and everything seems to be doing pretty well. What's next? Thanks so much, this place has been such a help to me in this hobby, I can't even express how much!

07/15/2008, 12:37 PM	#11
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	cyling usually takes 3-5 weeks but it depends alot on the cured state of the life rock. Remeasure in a week---that would be six weeks and they be down by then. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/15/2008, 09:29 AM	#2
mray Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 122	With time, large pieces of rocks and a deep sand bed will grow anaerobic bacteria which will convert your nitrates into nitrogen.

07/15/2008, 09:36 AM	#3
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	How old is the tank?

07/15/2008, 09:55 AM	#4
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	Tank is 5 weeks old.

07/15/2008, 10:01 AM	#5
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I'd give it some more time. Your tank is still very young.

07/15/2008, 10:05 AM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I agree, you should give it more time.

07/15/2008, 11:00 AM	#7
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	I am happy to give it as much time as possible. But what should I do in the meantime? Nothing? Water changes? Thx!

07/15/2008, 11:32 AM	#9
peterpaul Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 73	seems to me that your tank is still cycling. just get it time. if the nitrate levels is at 20 I will leave it and monitor the levels. it should go down with the live rock and sand you have in your tank containing the benificial bacteria to break it down. if nitrates go higher then that then do a few more water changes

07/15/2008, 12:32 PM	#10
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	Nitrates have been at 20 steady since I did the 25% water change. So I will sit tight and wait. How long does it normally take for it to get to 0 on it's own. I am patient, I can wait all the time in the world, just curious what I am looking at in terms of wait time.

07/15/2008, 12:38 PM	#12
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	Ok, great. Thx so much Capn!

07/15/2008, 12:42 PM	#13
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	Patience is one of the most important aspects of reef keeping.....and one of the hardest. It's an exciting hobby, and we usually can't wait to get the tank looking like a Tank-of-the-Month. It's tempting to buy too many fish too soon and to rush the maturation of sandbeds and live rock. Be patient. Your tank will last as many years (or decades) as you desire. If it takes a week or a month more, let the tank cycle fully, and then move on. Don't worry. Almost all of us have been in your shoes.

07/15/2008, 12:45 PM	#15
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	I'm in the same boat as you, but my tank is 4 weeks old tomorrow. My Nitrates got up to about 35 by the end of week 3, I changed about 50% of the water which brought them down to 20. Tomorrow will be one week since I did that and my ammonia and nitrites are still zero and my nitrates are still 20 and I'm still waiting.

07/15/2008, 03:48 PM	#16
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	100% Joey, I have no problem with patience. I will wait it out, tested again just now and nitrates holding at 20, so we'll wait! Shuguley - good luck to your tank as well, I will post back in about a week to see where I am at, you should do the same as well since our tanks are about even in the cycle.