Nitrate Question

marcaharding · 11/19/2013, 03:47 PM

I have been cycling my tank for just about 5 weeks and some of you guys remember my last post and the fish dying, my question is now though, my ammonia has seem to drop to near zero if not zero but nitrates are still elevated after 10 days. What if anything should I do to help lower these and do I need to continue to add food to keep the ammonia level going.

thegrun · 11/19/2013, 04:00 PM

After your ammonia has spiked and dropped there is no need to continue to ghost feed the tank unless you plan on going an extended period (4 weeks or more) without fish after the initial cycle is complete (nitrites drop to zero). I wouldn't worry about the nitrates until the cycle is complete. At that point make a major water change to lower the nitrates.

nmbeg · 11/19/2013, 04:09 PM

Once the cycle is complete, ammonia and nitrites will hit zero, but nitrates will stay high--the only way to remove them is a water change or a DSB to convert nitrates into nitrogen gas (i think).

marcaharding · 11/19/2013, 04:26 PM

yea sorry the nitrites are still high over 10 days but plan on the water change when it hits zero just was not sure if I still needed to feed the tank thanks

nmbeg · 11/19/2013, 04:31 PM

no need to feed--you are in phase two of the cycle (ammonia down, nitrites up)--eventually the bacteria will figure out how to convert the nitrite to nitrate and you'll be in the home stretch.

at that point, you can test feed by adding ammonia and test to see that the ammonia goes through the cycle quickly--that means you're done!

mmedeiros2 · 11/19/2013, 07:32 PM

The nitrate will drop overnight when it is time. It sometimes take a while. Be patient.

marcaharding · 11/19/2013, 07:36 PM

Oh I have learned to be patient lol, I am not sure my two remaining clown fish are happy being stuck in the qt for going on a month now. They have knocked on deaths door a couple of times and I have been able to quickly get them out into new water and and change the qt tack 100% because that has yet to cycle so i am dosing it everyday with prime and ammo lock and doing 5 gallon water changes daily to make sure they survive then I will cycle that tank and keep it running in case I have a need for it

mmedeiros2 · 11/19/2013, 07:43 PM

I meant to say NITRITE.

marcaharding · 11/19/2013, 07:54 PM

yea i figured I get them mixed up all the time I hate both of em, wish there was never a cycle and ammonia just disappeared.

11/19/2013, 03:47 PM	#1
marcaharding Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Waxhaw, North Carolina Posts: 54	Nitrate Question I have been cycling my tank for just about 5 weeks and some of you guys remember my last post and the fish dying, my question is now though, my ammonia has seem to drop to near zero if not zero but nitrates are still elevated after 10 days. What if anything should I do to help lower these and do I need to continue to add food to keep the ammonia level going.

11/19/2013, 07:32 PM	#6
mmedeiros2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dartmouth, Ma. Posts: 452	The nitrate will drop overnight when it is time. It sometimes take a while. Be patient. __________________ One must always be aware for the unexpected. Mike Current Tank Info: 75 gal. / Sump / Skimmer / 65 Lbs. LR / 2 Cleaner Shrimp / Firefish / Bangi Cardinal / Pearly Jawfish / 3 - Yellow Clown Gobies / Yellow Wrasse / Hermits

11/19/2013, 07:43 PM	#8
mmedeiros2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dartmouth, Ma. Posts: 452	I meant to say NITRITE. __________________ One must always be aware for the unexpected. Mike Current Tank Info: 75 gal. / Sump / Skimmer / 65 Lbs. LR / 2 Cleaner Shrimp / Firefish / Bangi Cardinal / Pearly Jawfish / 3 - Yellow Clown Gobies / Yellow Wrasse / Hermits

11/19/2013, 04:00 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	After your ammonia has spiked and dropped there is no need to continue to ghost feed the tank unless you plan on going an extended period (4 weeks or more) without fish after the initial cycle is complete (nitrites drop to zero). I wouldn't worry about the nitrates until the cycle is complete. At that point make a major water change to lower the nitrates.

11/19/2013, 04:09 PM	#3
nmbeg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 894	Once the cycle is complete, ammonia and nitrites will hit zero, but nitrates will stay high--the only way to remove them is a water change or a DSB to convert nitrates into nitrogen gas (i think).

11/19/2013, 04:26 PM	#4
marcaharding Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Waxhaw, North Carolina Posts: 54	yea sorry the nitrites are still high over 10 days but plan on the water change when it hits zero just was not sure if I still needed to feed the tank thanks

11/19/2013, 04:31 PM	#5
nmbeg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 894	no need to feed--you are in phase two of the cycle (ammonia down, nitrites up)--eventually the bacteria will figure out how to convert the nitrite to nitrate and you'll be in the home stretch. at that point, you can test feed by adding ammonia and test to see that the ammonia goes through the cycle quickly--that means you're done!

11/19/2013, 07:36 PM	#7
marcaharding Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Waxhaw, North Carolina Posts: 54	Oh I have learned to be patient lol, I am not sure my two remaining clown fish are happy being stuck in the qt for going on a month now. They have knocked on deaths door a couple of times and I have been able to quickly get them out into new water and and change the qt tack 100% because that has yet to cycle so i am dosing it everyday with prime and ammo lock and doing 5 gallon water changes daily to make sure they survive then I will cycle that tank and keep it running in case I have a need for it

11/19/2013, 07:54 PM	#9
marcaharding Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Waxhaw, North Carolina Posts: 54	yea i figured I get them mixed up all the time I hate both of em, wish there was never a cycle and ammonia just disappeared.