How Much Longer

[navvet8992]

i am doing a fish in cycle and started the tank on 8/28/08. the ammonia is 0, ph has been between 6.5 and 7 nitrates are around 15 (tap is 10). My question is about the nitrites. They are at 1.0 and have been there for about 5 days now. The fish seem to be doing very well swimming and eating and all looks good. my question is how much longer will it probably take for the nitrites to drop. each day it seems to be the same at 1. i am now at the 21 day period since the tank was started. Am i close now? maybe the nitrites haven't had the effect on the fish due to the ph staying under 7. I am testing once sometimes twice a day with the api liquid test kits. thanks for your help.

 

[Colin_T]

It can take about 4-8 weeks for the tank to cycle and the filters to become fully developed. On average 4 weeks is pretty common but cooler water and incorrect PH can increase the time it takes. A PH of 6.5-7.5 is ideal.
If you are getting some nitrates, then it means the bacteria that eats the nitrites are there and are doing their job. They just haven't built up in sufficient numbers yet. It will probably settle in a few days to a week.
You only need to test once a day. With some kits you can use half the water and half the drops to double the number of tests you get, thus saving you money on new test kits.

 

[navvet8992]

It can take about 4-8 weeks for the tank to cycle and the filters to become fully developed. On average 4 weeks is pretty common but cooler water and incorrect PH can increase the time it takes. A PH of 6.5-7.5 is ideal.
If you are getting some nitrates, then it means the bacteria that eats the nitrites are there and are doing their job. They just haven't built up in sufficient numbers yet. It will probably settle in a few days to a week.
You only need to test once a day. With some kits you can use half the water and half the drops to double the number of tests you get, thus saving you money on new test kits.

great advise thanks for the input.

 

[waterdrop]

I'm confused. navvet is doing a fish-in cycle and reports a nitrite (NO2) level of 1.0ppm for 5 days running. Wouldn't we want to recommend an increase in water change routine (either higher percentage of water changed out or more frequent water changes) such that a nitrite (NO2) level of 0.25ppm or lower be maintained for the fish?

There would still be plenty of NO2 for the nitrite oxidizing bacteria colony to increase, but the fish would be safer I would think.

The usual test for the "End of Fish-In Cycling" that I've read on TFF is if the filter can go two days in a row showing you zero ammonia and zero nitrite (NO2) without you having to do a water change.

?? ~~waterdrop~~

 

[toshapetriji]

Yup agreed Waterdrop. Nitrite at 1.0 is not good for the fish more frequent water changes needed.

 

[Rooster]

Experience has shown that if you DO choose to do a "fish in" then you have to look upon the current occupants as "disposable" The fish ARE damaged already... just let the cycle complete.

Why do we all use "fishless" these days ? its not self torture ! ;-)

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yes most definately increased water changes, goal is to keep nitrite under 0.25ppm so do as many water changes every day as it takes to keep it there. be patient with nitrites, it usually takes twice as long for nitrite to go as it did ammonia, so if it's took about 15 days to get ammonia to stay steady at 0, it can take a further 30 days until the nitrite stays there.

it's a long and horrible process which is why we always recommend fishless cycling!

 

[puppyjess123]

Collin can u do that half dosage thing with API liquid freshwater master kit?

 

[OldMan47]

I don't think so PuppyJess. That is a trick for a well marked sample system that is designed for it. You could estimate the half sample and use half the drops but you would lose some accuracy doing it.