Amonia Dropping in Cycle

[bfoleyiii]

My amonia was reading .25 on todays test (drops quick quickly once Nitrite starts to show up). Nitrite is very high (10.0 per the api test) with Nitrate at about 5.0. Based on the numbers the last couple of days I expect that tomorrow my Amonia will read zero. I have not been adding any source of amonia as the die off from the rocks I used took the amonia up pretty high the first couple of days but now that the amonia is coming way down should I add some flake while the NO2 comes down or do I let it go with nothing while this happens?

[smtank]

I have always just let the cycle happen naturally. Once you get to 0 for nitrite let it sit for a few days, check everything again. If you have 0 for nitrite you can do a small water change to bring down nitrates.

If you started with cured LR the process usually goes quicker.

Just go very slow adding fish, allow the bacterial bed to catch up the new bio-load between new additions.

[bertoni]

I might start doing some 10-15% water changes once the ammonia hits zero, to remove any toxins and other leftovers from the decay process. Other than that, I'd just wait.

[bfoleyiii]

So there isnt a worry that the bacteria that converts the NH4 to NO2 will die off waiting for the other bacteria to do its thing?

[jeff@zina.com]

Third answer's the charm!

Wait. Nitrites will drop when Nitrates start rising, just as with ammonia->nitrite. Nitrites at 0 for a week and your initial cycle is done, then add clean up crew, then start adding live stock slowly. The cycle will continue, you just add live stock slowly and you don't see the spikes. It takes quite a while for a tank to become sterile again.

Jeff

[JoeRonda]

Originally Posted by bfoleyiii

So there isnt a worry that the bacteria that converts the NH4 to NO2 will die off waiting for the other bacteria to do its thing?

No worries, your bacteria is colonizing, it will not die off as long as there is something producing waste in the tank for it to eat. Once your NH4,NO2 are 0 add clean up crew like jeff said and you'll be in good shape.

[bertoni]

Most people add some fish before the bacteria die back all that much.

[duncantse]

Once you see 0 ammonia and nitrite, you can do a 50% water change to bring down your nitrates.

[bfoleyiii]

Originally Posted by bertoni

Most people add some fish before the bacteria die back all that much.

and I guess thats more my question. How long do I have once amonia hits zero before th bactera die of and I start again. I was expecting this process to take quite a bit longe than it seems to (just shy of two weeks at the moment and was expecting six to eight). If I pick something up tomorrow its 4 weeks in QT before it will hit the display, now I could have some CUC going before that sure but will a couple of days or a week for the NO2 to drop to zero be an issue?

[bertoni]

Unless I was adding a large fish or a large number of fish, I wouldn't worry, but you could add a bit of fish food every day or two to feed the bacteria, and animals on the live rock.

[bfoleyiii]

Thanks again all. New and exciting newb post incoming probably tomorrow or monday.

[JoeRonda]

Originally Posted by duncantse

Once you see 0 ammonia and nitrite, you can do a 50% water change to bring down your nitrates.

His tank is brand new, why would he need to do a W.C. that big? Why would his NO3 be so high that he would need to change half the water in his tank? My tank is 6 mo. old, I feed my fish everyday, a little too much sometimes and I have yet to detect any NO3.

[duncantse]

During the cycle, ammonia will spike. Next, nitrite will spike. Finally, Nitrate will spike. Without water changes, the nitrate will stay in the tank. Unless your LR can house anaerobic bacteria, water changes is the only way to remove nitrates.

[bertoni]

Water changes will lower the nitrate fairly rapidly, but they aren't necessary, IME. I avoid large water changes, as they can cause problems by exposing live rock to air, etc. A series of smaller changes is just as good.

[JoeRonda]

Originally Posted by duncantse

During the cycle, ammonia will spike. Next, nitrite will spike. Finally, Nitrate will spike. Without water changes, the nitrate will stay in the tank. Unless your LR can house anaerobic bacteria, water changes is the only way to remove nitrates.

Then my LR must be some good stuff because like I said, I don't have any NO3. I've got a whole bunch of caulerpa in the 'fuge, maybe that is what is sucking up the 'trates.