Cycling problem?

mab413 · 01/13/2012, 11:33 AM

Hi, I just put together my first sw tank, 4 weeks ago. It is a 55 gal with a 29 gal sump. Its stocked with 55 lbs of marco dry rock and 5 lbs of bali live rock, and 50 lbs of sugar sand. The problem I am having is my nitirites and nitrates are sky high. My amonia spike was in week one and is now at 0. I had diatoms for 3 or 4 days and some algae growth, but both have since disappeared. Is this normal?

tony53176 · 01/13/2012, 12:17 PM

I don't think you have a cycling problem your cycle has just moved on to the next phase, you have a good size colony of bacteria that consume ammonia and now the bacteria that consumes nitrites should be colonizing its just taking a little bit longer, give it time you should see the nitrites start to drop soon.

tspors · 01/13/2012, 12:25 PM

You have no issues all is well. Just ride this for another month then add your CUC.

mab413 · 01/13/2012, 12:29 PM

Ok, thanks for the quick replies. I was just being a worrier.

sporto0 · 01/13/2012, 01:15 PM

You can do a 40% water change to export some nitrates, also they may not be as high as they are testing for, if nitrites are present, they will affect the nitrate test as well giving you a higher reading, it's good that ammonia is zero, as soon as your nitrites are zero, you are good to go, of course nitrates will probably be high again but another 40% water change will help before you add a CUC or livestock.

nanito · 01/13/2012, 01:53 PM

I would do the waer change, you do not want the good life in the rocks to die.

disc1 · 01/13/2012, 02:13 PM

+1 to what sport said. Nitrite will trip a nitrate test.

Sport507 · 01/13/2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disc1

+1 to what sport said. Nitrite will trip a nitrate test.

Ok Nikola.......I'm Sport that's Sport0

+1 Sport0

sporto0 · 01/13/2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport507

Ok Nikola.......I'm Sport that's Sport0

+1 Sport0

Actually, it's sporto zero, but that's ok Sport you can have the credit. HA HA

Sport507 · 01/13/2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporto0

Actually, it's sporto zero, but that's ok Sport you can have the credit. HA HA

Ok got cha, we are sport and sporto0/zero. Then just tell Nikola Tesla to make a note of that.

Should I just call you the big Z?

Sport507 · 01/13/2012, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporto0

Actually, it's sporto zero, but that's ok Sport you can have the credit. HA HA

Never mind I figured it out you are know as sporto ezro.

rolodex1 · 01/13/2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony53176

i don't think you have a cycling problem your cycle has just moved on to the next phase, you have a good size colony of bacteria that consume ammonia and now the bacteria that consumes nitrites should be colonizing its just taking a little bit longer, give it time you should see the nitrites start to drop soon.

+1

01/13/2012, 11:33 AM	#1
mab413 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 20	Cycling problem? Hi, I just put together my first sw tank, 4 weeks ago. It is a 55 gal with a 29 gal sump. Its stocked with 55 lbs of marco dry rock and 5 lbs of bali live rock, and 50 lbs of sugar sand. The problem I am having is my nitirites and nitrates are sky high. My amonia spike was in week one and is now at 0. I had diatoms for 3 or 4 days and some algae growth, but both have since disappeared. Is this normal?

01/13/2012, 12:17 PM	#2
tony53176 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Auburn, MA. Posts: 268	I don't think you have a cycling problem your cycle has just moved on to the next phase, you have a good size colony of bacteria that consume ammonia and now the bacteria that consumes nitrites should be colonizing its just taking a little bit longer, give it time you should see the nitrites start to drop soon. __________________ Go Patriots!! Current Tank Info: 75gal AGA, reaction 4 canister filter with UV sterilizer, 80lbs live sand, 55lbs dry live pukani rock, 2 1300gph circulation pumps, aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer, 216 watt T5 lights

01/13/2012, 12:25 PM	#3
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	You have no issues all is well. Just ride this for another month then add your CUC. __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

01/13/2012, 01:53 PM	#6
nanito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 211	I would do the waer change, you do not want the good life in the rocks to die. __________________ I just had a dream, and a 180 gal was my nano tank. Current Tank Info: 36 gal fresh water / 45 gal reef aiptasia dominated

01/13/2012, 02:13 PM	#7
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	+1 to what sport said. Nitrite will trip a nitrate test. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

01/13/2012, 12:29 PM	#4
mab413 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 20	Ok, thanks for the quick replies. I was just being a worrier.

01/13/2012, 01:15 PM	#5
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	You can do a 40% water change to export some nitrates, also they may not be as high as they are testing for, if nitrites are present, they will affect the nitrate test as well giving you a higher reading, it's good that ammonia is zero, as soon as your nitrites are zero, you are good to go, of course nitrates will probably be high again but another 40% water change will help before you add a CUC or livestock.

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