Stuck on the Nitrate stage of my cycle

Tarrant · 09/08/2013, 04:36 PM

Ok so it's been about 3 1/2 weeks now.
Using an API test kit my ammonia is, I'd guess, around .1ppm (1/2 way between the 0 and .25ppm colors).
Nitrite has been 0ppm for almost 2 weeks now.
Nitrate is around 20-30 ppm and has been for almost 2 weeks.
I've had a diatom bloom start a week ago that seems to be continuing.

Tank parameters:
Salinity 1.024; alkalinity 9.6 on KH scale, calcium 410; magnesium 1400, temp hovering depending on lights and the like between 80 and 81

Is it unusual for the nitrates to get "stuck" for a while at this stage?

on the spot · 09/08/2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant

Ok so it's been about 3 1/2 weeks now...
Nitrate is around 20-30 ppm and has been for almost 2 weeks...

Is it unusual for the nitrates to get "stuck" for a while at this stage?

I'm positive I don't know what you mean by stuck. Most tanks won't see significant nitrate reduction without water changes.

How long does it take your tank to move from 1ppm ammonia to near zero? Have you been ghost feeding the tank all along?

JDMR2 · 09/08/2013, 06:57 PM

Nitrates are the last stage of the cycle. You'll need to find ways to export Nitrate, one of which is water changes.

Tarrant · 09/08/2013, 07:04 PM

Understood, I was under the misconception that bacteria broke the nitrate down slowly and things such as water changes and algae/plants just expedited the process.

I have been ghost feeding it a pinch of flakes each day, yes. I started it off initially with some pure ammonia but that was 3+ weeks ago and it long since leveled off.

I can't say how long it takes to go from 1ppm to near zero as it hasn't ever gotten that high with the flakes I've been ghost feeding each morning. I can say by each evening it's just barely a touch greener than the lowest 0 yellow color on the test kit.

I guess this just means I'm effectively cycled but I still don't want to put anything in there until the turf scrubber gets a good initial layer of algae. It has a thin film but I'd be happier with it a bit more established before adding critters.

brandon429 · 09/08/2013, 07:14 PM

Google this

Api marine false ammonia reading

Based on returned results how much do you trust api ammonia testing. Sure a man out there can use it. How did the search results come out

Tarrant · 09/08/2013, 07:20 PM

When I put some ammonia in initially it maxed out when tested an hour later so I don't think it's giving a dead 0 read all the time. Also it has fluctuated, more in the first week or so than lately of course.
I'm sure it's not dead accurate but it's seemed to be in the expected ballpark

leveldrummer · 09/08/2013, 07:20 PM

Your tank is cycled, go buy a fish.

API kits test a little ammonia frequently, and nitrate never breaks down naturally, it slowly builds, you have to remove it with water changes or through macro algae growth and removal.

Your good to go.

Tarrant · 09/08/2013, 07:23 PM

Thanks but it's only going to have one fish, a damsel. It's primarily for a mantis shrimp and I want to make sure the water quality is solid and well established first. As a turf scrubber is my main nitrate removal method that means an established algae build up on it first.

But thank you

I will go ahead and get the cleaning crew now though.

09/08/2013, 04:36 PM	#1
Tarrant Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 51	Stuck on the Nitrate stage of my cycle Ok so it's been about 3 1/2 weeks now. Using an API test kit my ammonia is, I'd guess, around .1ppm (1/2 way between the 0 and .25ppm colors). Nitrite has been 0ppm for almost 2 weeks now. Nitrate is around 20-30 ppm and has been for almost 2 weeks. I've had a diatom bloom start a week ago that seems to be continuing. Tank parameters: Salinity 1.024; alkalinity 9.6 on KH scale, calcium 410; magnesium 1400, temp hovering depending on lights and the like between 80 and 81 Is it unusual for the nitrates to get "stuck" for a while at this stage?

09/08/2013, 06:57 PM	#3
JDMR2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 51	Nitrates are the last stage of the cycle. You'll need to find ways to export Nitrate, one of which is water changes.

09/08/2013, 07:04 PM	#4
Tarrant Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 51	Understood, I was under the misconception that bacteria broke the nitrate down slowly and things such as water changes and algae/plants just expedited the process. I have been ghost feeding it a pinch of flakes each day, yes. I started it off initially with some pure ammonia but that was 3+ weeks ago and it long since leveled off. I can't say how long it takes to go from 1ppm to near zero as it hasn't ever gotten that high with the flakes I've been ghost feeding each morning. I can say by each evening it's just barely a touch greener than the lowest 0 yellow color on the test kit. I guess this just means I'm effectively cycled but I still don't want to put anything in there until the turf scrubber gets a good initial layer of algae. It has a thin film but I'd be happier with it a bit more established before adding critters.

09/08/2013, 07:14 PM	#5
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	Google this Api marine false ammonia reading Based on returned results how much do you trust api ammonia testing. Sure a man out there can use it. How did the search results come out

09/08/2013, 07:20 PM	#6
Tarrant Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 51	When I put some ammonia in initially it maxed out when tested an hour later so I don't think it's giving a dead 0 read all the time. Also it has fluctuated, more in the first week or so than lately of course. I'm sure it's not dead accurate but it's seemed to be in the expected ballpark

09/08/2013, 07:20 PM	#7
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	Your tank is cycled, go buy a fish. API kits test a little ammonia frequently, and nitrate never breaks down naturally, it slowly builds, you have to remove it with water changes or through macro algae growth and removal. Your good to go.

09/08/2013, 07:23 PM	#8
Tarrant Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 51	Thanks but it's only going to have one fish, a damsel. It's primarily for a mantis shrimp and I want to make sure the water quality is solid and well established first. As a turf scrubber is my main nitrate removal method that means an established algae build up on it first. But thank you I will go ahead and get the cleaning crew now though.