Help - Nitrites have peaked yet ammonia has not started to drop - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

JRB__ · 10-24-2009, 04:46 AM

Hey,
I've had a 75 gallon tank cycling for about three weeks now with 5 tiger barbs in it. The ammonia levels peaked as usual within 2-3 days after adding the fish and sure enough within a week of ammonia peak, nitrites slowly began to rise, so I was thinking all is going as it should be. However the nitrites have been at very high levels for nearly 10 days now, which I know can last for many weeks, but - I thought that as the nitrites begin to rise the ammonia should begin to drop...and should be at 0ppm within days of nitrite peak. Anyone have any input?

Oh and also will adding used filter media or gravel from an established tank, at this point of the cycling process, help to speed the process?
Thanks for any replies.

Newman · 10-24-2009, 08:58 AM

It will speed it up. eventually the ammonia should go down. any visible rotting stuff in your tank? if so thats the source of the never-ending ammonia. you can wait until it drops. a couple more weeks should do it. then the nitrites might take a while.

MoneyMitch · 10-25-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newman

It will speed it up. eventually the ammonia should go down. any visible rotting stuff in your tank? if so thats the source of the never-ending ammonia. you can wait until it drops. a couple more weeks should do it. then the nitrites might take a while.

+1

and i would also like to add, ammonia and nitrItes will both be higher during the start to the mid of the cycle, it is a transition just be patient dont add crazy chems and keep up with w/c's.

FroggyFox · 10-25-2009, 09:48 PM

There is also a chance that the dechlorinator or something you have in the tank is giving you a false positive on your ammonia test kit.

I wouldn't worry too much if the cycle is continuing to progress...but if you don't start seeing nitrates soon and a drop in nitrites then I would do a water change. (unless you've been doing water changes all along, in which case I'm not entirely sure what's going on)

Rotting things in the tank won't cause the ammonia level to stay high, it might cause a pesky .25ppm of nitrites to linger...but once the bacteria are colonized they will take care of any ammonia in the tank...as your fish are a never ending source of ammonia

JRB__ · 10-26-2009, 05:12 AM

Thanks for your input guys. I think i'll just try and wait it out, i've never needed to invest in a nitrate test kit because ammonia and nitrite kits have always been enough to get me through a cycle but I think this is just gonna be one of those drawn out, painful cycle's that doesn't go by the norm, so i'll have to monitor it. Thanks again.

Newman · 10-26-2009, 07:36 PM

you might want to get a nitrate test as well...nitrates arent just there as a sign for a finished cycle. You should test them every week to see if theyre within the safe levels. If you overfeed, you might get more levels of nitrates than you need. I think a smaller tank would be most at risk from high nitrates. also it would tell you how frequesntly to change your water and how much, to keep the nitrate low.

And if you keep a planted tank, you should know the nitrate levels in your tank, to make sure they dont get too low.

MoneyMitch · 10-26-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newman

you might want to get a nitrate test as well...nitrates arent just there as a sign for a finished cycle. You should test them every week to see if theyre within the safe levels. If you overfeed, you might get more levels of nitrates than you need. I think a smaller tank would be most at risk from high nitrates. also it would tell you how frequesntly to change your water and how much, to keep the nitrate low.

And if you keep a planted tank, you should know the nitrate levels in your tank, to make sure they dont get too low.

most generally nitrAtes arent toxic to fish unless they are in the 400-500 ppm range.

OrangeCones · 10-26-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyMitch

most generally nitrAtes arent toxic to fish unless they are in the 400-500 ppm range.

400+? Really?

homebunnyj · 10-26-2009, 09:30 PM

Good gravy, how long would a tank have to be let go to get 400-500 nitrates? and wouldn't it smell?!

Nitrate toxicity levels reportedly vary according to species, as well as to how accustomed to high nitrates the fish have become.

MoneyMitch · 10-26-2009, 10:02 PM

in heavily planted tanks nitrates ranging in the 200-300 ppm are VERY common. the bad smell comes from high ammonia in tanks not nitrAtes.

10-24-2009, 04:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
JRB__ Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 71	Help - Nitrites have peaked yet ammonia has not started to drop Hey, I've had a 75 gallon tank cycling for about three weeks now with 5 tiger barbs in it. The ammonia levels peaked as usual within 2-3 days after adding the fish and sure enough within a week of ammonia peak, nitrites slowly began to rise, so I was thinking all is going as it should be. However the nitrites have been at very high levels for nearly 10 days now, which I know can last for many weeks, but - I thought that as the nitrites begin to rise the ammonia should begin to drop...and should be at 0ppm within days of nitrite peak. Anyone have any input? Oh and also will adding used filter media or gravel from an established tank, at this point of the cycling process, help to speed the process? Thanks for any replies. __________________ ~ Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it ~ 10 Gallon: Planted Dwarf Powder Blue Gourami Dwarf Flame gourami 20 Gallon: Planted Breeding pair of Kribensis 68 Gallon: Planted Breeding pair of Blue Acaras Baby Tiger Oscar 2 Peppermint Bristlenose Plecos 170 Gallon: On Order. Will be stocking it with - Tiger Oscar Black Pleco Severum, one Gold one Green Black Ghost Knife

10-24-2009, 08:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	It will speed it up. eventually the ammonia should go down. any visible rotting stuff in your tank? if so thats the source of the never-ending ammonia. you can wait until it drops. a couple more weeks should do it. then the nitrites might take a while. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

10-25-2009, 09:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
FroggyFox Forum Manager Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,439	There is also a chance that the dechlorinator or something you have in the tank is giving you a false positive on your ammonia test kit. I wouldn't worry too much if the cycle is continuing to progress...but if you don't start seeing nitrates soon and a drop in nitrites then I would do a water change. (unless you've been doing water changes all along, in which case I'm not entirely sure what's going on) Rotting things in the tank won't cause the ammonia level to stay high, it might cause a pesky .25ppm of nitrites to linger...but once the bacteria are colonized they will take care of any ammonia in the tank...as your fish are a never ending source of ammonia __________________ 29, 46 & 55FW 29 SW + dog + horse + catYou can view info & photos of my critters here...

10-26-2009, 05:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
JRB__ Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 71	Thanks for your input guys. I think i'll just try and wait it out, i've never needed to invest in a nitrate test kit because ammonia and nitrite kits have always been enough to get me through a cycle but I think this is just gonna be one of those drawn out, painful cycle's that doesn't go by the norm, so i'll have to monitor it. Thanks again. __________________ ~ Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it ~ 10 Gallon: Planted Dwarf Powder Blue Gourami Dwarf Flame gourami 20 Gallon: Planted Breeding pair of Kribensis 68 Gallon: Planted Breeding pair of Blue Acaras Baby Tiger Oscar 2 Peppermint Bristlenose Plecos 170 Gallon: On Order. Will be stocking it with - Tiger Oscar Black Pleco Severum, one Gold one Green Black Ghost Knife

10-26-2009, 07:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	you might want to get a nitrate test as well...nitrates arent just there as a sign for a finished cycle. You should test them every week to see if theyre within the safe levels. If you overfeed, you might get more levels of nitrates than you need. I think a smaller tank would be most at risk from high nitrates. also it would tell you how frequesntly to change your water and how much, to keep the nitrate low. And if you keep a planted tank, you should know the nitrate levels in your tank, to make sure they dont get too low. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

10-26-2009, 09:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
homebunnyj Super Fish Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,299	Good gravy, how long would a tank have to be let go to get 400-500 nitrates? and wouldn't it smell?! Nitrate toxicity levels reportedly vary according to species, as well as to how accustomed to high nitrates the fish have become. __________________ Judy Down to 3 tanks... from 7!! 29g: 3 goldfish (temporary)... thinking of convicts instead 55g: 12 glowlight tetras, 3 yoyo loaches (planning for another school of tetras, some more yoyo's, and maybe a pair of rams... any suggestions?) 2g: 3 guppies waiting for a bigger home and a few more buddies

10-26-2009, 10:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
MoneyMitch Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 33	in heavily planted tanks nitrates ranging in the 200-300 ppm are VERY common. the bad smell comes from high ammonia in tanks not nitrAtes. __________________ Fish keeping is easy don't over complicate it