Cycling tank

[Elzreef]

Im now at the 3 weeks mark with cycling my new tank its a 20 gallon waterbox, currently cycling with dr tims and dr tims ammonia, as of now i have some ammonia and really high nitrites and mid to high nirates, should i give it more time to see if nitrites zero out? Or I was thinking of adding another bottle of dr tims nitrifying bacteria to speed up the process, what are your thoughts?

 

[Dan_P]

Im now at the 3 weeks mark with cycling my new tank its a 20 gallon waterbox, currently cycling with dr tims and dr tims ammonia, as of now i have some ammonia and really high nitrites and mid to high nirates, should i give it more time to see if nitrites zero out? Or I was thinking of adding another bottle of dr tims nitrifying bacteria to speed up the process, what are your thoughts?

Nitrite level is not all that important. What is the ammonia concentration? What did you start with?

 

[Elzreef]

I cant give you an exact number but i have a picture of what the test looks like

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm terrible with those color match tests, but honestly your results look pretty good.

Personally, I'd let it go just a little longer and I think you'll see your ammonia go to zero.

If you really want to, you could add another bottle of the Dr. Tim's One and Only. I do like and use his product, but it's not really known as "fast acting". I still say just wait, but if you wanted to add something to get you past this last little stretch, I'd suggest Fritz Turbo Start, which is like Dr Tim's One and Only, but seems to work much faster.

Good luck!

 

[PharmrJohn]

Looks like your well on your way. I don't think you need any more bacteria in a bottle. How much rock you got in there? You've got a healthy amount if nitrates in there now, so everything is doing it's job. Are you still adding ammonia? Basically, if your ecosystem can take 2ppm of ammonia and get rid of it in 24 hours, you're golden.

 

[Reefer2.0]

Don’t add anything and just wait. When your ammonia is fully yellow and safe your good to go!

 

[Fish Fan]

Looks like your well on your way. I don't think you need any more bacteria in a bottle. How much rock you got in there? You've got a healthy amount if nitrates in there now, so everything is doing it's job. Are you still adding ammonia? Basically, if your ecosystem can take 2ppm of ammonia and get rid of it in 24 hours, you're golden.

From what I've been reading, it's possible that the presence of nitrite at this point could be artificially inflating the nitrate results, especially with the API test kits. Not that I disagree with your point that nitrates are showing, so the tank is cycling.

 

[Elzreef]

Yes, after reading everyone’s opinion, I think i will wait it out another week or so, that would put me at about a month, and we what the results are hopefully i am fully cycled at that point

 

[Fish Fan]

Yes, after reading everyone’s opinion, I think i will wait it out another week or so, that would put me at about a month, and we what the results are hopefully i am fully cycled at that point

I think that's a solid plan! We like to say that nothing good happens quickly in this hobby, and patience is typically best practice

 

[Spare time]

You can turn the heat up to 81-82F to speed things up a bit.

 

[Fish Fan]

You can turn the heat up to 81-82F to speed things up a bit.

Absolutely, and dropping the salinity a bit will help too, if you really want/need the fastest possible cycle.

For what it's worth, and since the OP is using Dr. Tim's products, here's a great talk by Dr. Tim Hovanec himself. This is worth a watch, in my opinion:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Yes, after reading everyone’s opinion, I think i will wait it out another week or so, that would put me at about a month, and we what the results are hopefully i am fully cycled at that point

That is what I would do! Better to take it slow and safe!

 

[Elzreef]

Would adding another bottle of tims one and only hurt anything at this point and speed up the process some?

 

[Fish Fan]

Would adding another bottle of tims one and only hurt anything at this point and speed up the process some?

Short answer, no, it won't hurt anything, but it's not, in my opinion, going to speed up where you are right now in your cycle.

You are SUPER CLOSE to being fully cycled, I'd suggest being patient and giving it a few more days to a week or so. I get that you are super excited to get fish and other livestock into your tank, we've all been there, but nothing good happens quickly in this hobby. Your patience will be rewarded

But if you're really looking to move forward quickly, I'd suggest using Fritz Turbo Start instead of more Dr. Tim's One and Only. I think I mentioned, I like the Dr. Tim's product, it's what I like to use, but it's not known for "fast cycling" a tank. The Fritz Turbo Start has better reputation here as being "fast".

 

[Elzreef]

Short answer, no, it won't hurt anything, but it's not, in my opinion, going to speed up where you are right now in your cycle.

You are SUPER CLOSE to being fully cycled, I'd suggest being patient and giving it a few more days to a week or so. I get that you are super excited to get fish and other livestock into your tank, we've all been there, but nothing good happens quickly in this hobby. Your patience will be rewarded

But if you're really looking to move forward quickly, I'd suggest using Fritz Turbo Start instead of more Dr. Tim's One and Only. I think I mentioned, I like the Dr. Tim's product, it's what I like to use, but it's not known for "fast cycling" a tank. The Fritz Turbo Start has better reputation here as being "fast".

Thank you for the quick reply fine ill be patient for another week lol, which will put me at the 1 month mark hopefully those nitrites drop for me, i will keep you posted, thanks

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you for the quick reply fine ill be patient for another week lol, which will put me at the 1 month mark hopefully those nitrites drop for me, i will keep you posted, thanks

A month is not an overly long time to wait for a tank to cycle.

But contrary to traditional thinking, nitrite is not considered harmful in our reef tanks. Is this all you're waiting for, your nitrites to fall to zero?

If you saw your ammonia go up, then come down to zero, and you are recording nitrates, then you are basically cycled.

The "test" would be, if you can dose your tank up to ~2ppm ammonia with your ammonium chloride, and if you test your water 24 hours later and your ammonia is zero, you are basically cycled.

If that's where you are, proceed slowly and cautiously, but you can start to add some of your first livestock

Good luck!

 

[Elzreef]

A month is not an overly long time to wait for a tank to cycle.

But contrary to traditional thinking, nitrite is not considered harmful in our reef tanks. Is this all you're waiting for, your nitrites to fall to zero?

If you saw your ammonia go up, then come down to zero, and you are recording nitrates, then you are basically cycled.

The "test" would be, if you can dose your tank up to ~2ppm ammonia with your ammonium chloride, and if you test your water 24 hours later and your ammonia is zero, you are basically cycled.

If that's where you are, proceed slowly and cautiously, but you can start to add some of your first livestock

Good luck!

Yes ammonia was at 2ppm and now 0ppm, nirites are at 2ppm as of now, and i am seeing 1.0 nitrates, im going to give it another week anyway, i would like nitrites to 0 out hopefully by then and perform a 25 percent water change to lower nitrates

 

[Fish Fan]

Yes ammonia was at 2ppm and now 0ppm, nirites are at 2ppm as of now, and i am seeing 1.0 nitrates, im going to give it another week anyway, i would like nitrites to 0 out hopefully by then and perform a 25 percent water change to lower nitrates

I think that sounds like a smart plan!