Stalled Cycle?

ucdcrew · 04/24/2015, 09:28 AM

I started my cycle 2/15 ish (can't remember the exact date). I used Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride, and dosed up to 5 ppm accidentally. Ammonia subsequently dropped down to 0, and nitrite went on the climb. They were up higher than 5 ppm. They stayed that way for 2 weeks. For some odd reason, the nitrates were off the chart (>160) at the 4 week date, when I first checked them. I did a significant water change. lowered the nitrite to about .5, and the nitrate to around 10. I redosed ammonia, which was converted to nitrite in 24 hours.

The water change was 3/19. Nitrites are still high (at least 1 ppm). Specs/Params below.

10 weeks
100g display
29g sump
100 lb dry rock
10 lb live rock
100 lb dry sand
80 F
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 1 ppm
Nitrate 10-20 ppm
pH - 8.2
kH - 8
SG - 1.022

FWIW - my quarantine tank has cycled. It has an occellaris clown in it. She's been in there 3 weeks. I had set it up and was doing water changes to keep the ammonia/nitrite down, but it seems to have cycled as now only nitrate is present when I test.

I do have a bag of caribsea live sand still in the package. Would that help? I could put it in the sump or the DT. I also might be able to buy some biospira. I'm hesitant to buy more 'live rock' as I'm beginning to suspect the piece I bought wasn't actually live, just wet.

Kyle461 · 04/24/2015, 09:32 AM

Since your live to dry ratio is about 1:10, I'd say it's going to take some time to seed everything and have enough bacteria to handle the load. I know it's been a while but you might want to give it more time. Your fish will be fine in the QT until everything stabilizes.

ReefsandGeeks · 04/24/2015, 09:41 AM

+1, I'd continue to wait it out. Sounds like the bacteria is still building up to me. No need for water changes though, just wait untill it's all cycled and showing no nitrite or ammonia, then do a WC before adding the fish. I wouldn't wast $ on biospira or anything like that. If you're impatient, you can get some more LR from a different LFS, but I'd just wait it out. Sounds like you're getting close. Maybe another week or two. I know mine was going slow and seemed to be stalled, then all of a sudden it started dropping the nitrite and was done in like 3 days.

scooter31707 · 04/24/2015, 09:49 AM

Just give it a little more time. I recommend to ghost feed the tank with some flakes.

04/24/2015, 09:28 AM	#1
ucdcrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 563	Stalled Cycle? I started my cycle 2/15 ish (can't remember the exact date). I used Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride, and dosed up to 5 ppm accidentally. Ammonia subsequently dropped down to 0, and nitrite went on the climb. They were up higher than 5 ppm. They stayed that way for 2 weeks. For some odd reason, the nitrates were off the chart (>160) at the 4 week date, when I first checked them. I did a significant water change. lowered the nitrite to about .5, and the nitrate to around 10. I redosed ammonia, which was converted to nitrite in 24 hours. The water change was 3/19. Nitrites are still high (at least 1 ppm). Specs/Params below. 10 weeks 100g display 29g sump 100 lb dry rock 10 lb live rock 100 lb dry sand 80 F Ammonia - 0 ppm Nitrite - 1 ppm Nitrate 10-20 ppm pH - 8.2 kH - 8 SG - 1.022 FWIW - my quarantine tank has cycled. It has an occellaris clown in it. She's been in there 3 weeks. I had set it up and was doing water changes to keep the ammonia/nitrite down, but it seems to have cycled as now only nitrate is present when I test. I do have a bag of caribsea live sand still in the package. Would that help? I could put it in the sump or the DT. I also might be able to buy some biospira. I'm hesitant to buy more 'live rock' as I'm beginning to suspect the piece I bought wasn't actually live, just wet. __________________ If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable! Current Tank Info: 25g nano, working on new 65g

04/24/2015, 09:32 AM	#2
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	Since your live to dry ratio is about 1:10, I'd say it's going to take some time to seed everything and have enough bacteria to handle the load. I know it's been a while but you might want to give it more time. Your fish will be fine in the QT until everything stabilizes. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

04/24/2015, 09:41 AM	#3
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	+1, I'd continue to wait it out. Sounds like the bacteria is still building up to me. No need for water changes though, just wait untill it's all cycled and showing no nitrite or ammonia, then do a WC before adding the fish. I wouldn't wast $ on biospira or anything like that. If you're impatient, you can get some more LR from a different LFS, but I'd just wait it out. Sounds like you're getting close. Maybe another week or two. I know mine was going slow and seemed to be stalled, then all of a sudden it started dropping the nitrite and was done in like 3 days.

04/24/2015, 09:49 AM	#4
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Just give it a little more time. I recommend to ghost feed the tank with some flakes.