nitrite drop?

[lorax311420]

Is it possible for nitrite readings to drop to zero but still have ammonia readings when doing a fishless cycle? Amm. is about 4 ppm, Nitrite is 0 and Nitrate is 0. I had 4ppm Amm. about 3 ppm nitrite and 20 nitrate just the other day

 

[Toadfish]

That's a puzzle, it's possible the nitrate and nitrites converted to atmospheric nitrogen, what's in the tank right now (ie plants, carbon...) because carbon will take out some nitrate and nitrite, and so might plants. But I'm really not sure.

 

[rdd1952]

Is it possible for nitrite readings to drop to zero but still have ammonia readings when doing a fishless cycle?

[snapback]896889[/snapback]​

I'd say the short answer is no. If you have had nitrite, and it has gone then you should have nitrate. If you still have ammonia, you should still have nitrite (if the ammonia was higher and has dropped.

Have you checked your tap water? (Could have nitrite and nitrate in them)

Has the ammonia dropped at all since you started? (If not then your tank hasn't started cycling yet. Don't know where the nitrite and nitrate you had came form or went)

Are you 100% sure the test that showed nitrite and nitrate were correct? (Could have been a false reading)

Have you done a water change? (That could have removed nitrite and nitrate)

Are you using any chemicals such as Ammo-loc or Amquel that "neutralize" ammonia? (Neutralizing ammonia prevents it from being transformed into nitrite and thus prevents teh tank from cycling)

What is your pH? (Ammonia changes to ammonium at pH of 6.0 or lower. You will still get a reading but it isn't toxic. The down side is that your tank also won't cycle)

 

[lorax311420]

There is nothing in the tank right now except for the filter and decor. I an adding stress Zyme to help with the cycling but nothing else. The readings were true, and i have not done any water changes, my tap reads no nitrites or nitrates. I think I may just start over and cycle with fish

 

[rdd1952]

I would definitely recommend staying with the fishless cycle. I could possibly understand that the nitrite dropped during cycling but the nitrate can't drop that much unless you have a very heavily planted tank. Nothing else removes nitrate from the water. Something definitely doesn't sound right with the first set of readings. What do you have your temperature set on and do you have extra aeration. Both of those will help speed the cycling process.