is my bin of rocks done cycling? nitrites stuck at 1-2

[katsreef]

It is day 23 of my two little fishes stax rocks cycling in a bin using fritz turbo 900 (doing a rock swap in my tank). I haven't dosed ammonium chloride since day 9 as nitrite has been over 1 this entire time and has not dropped. It stays between 1-2. My ammonia has been testing at 0 since day 3 though. I know the bacteria can die out if starved but I also didn't want to add too much since nitrite is over 1 and it says not to add any ammonium chloride if over 1.

Should I add more ammonium chloride to keep the bacteria growing? Is the cycle complete even with nitrite at 1?

 

[C4ctus99]

It is day 23 of my two little fishes stax rocks cycling in a bin using fritz turbo 900 (doing a rock swap in my tank). I haven't dosed ammonium chloride since day 9 as nitrite has been over 1 this entire time and has not dropped. It stays between 1-2. My ammonia has been testing at 0 since day 3 though. I know the bacteria can die out if starved but I also didn't want to add too much since nitrite is over 1 and it says not to add any ammonium chloride if over 1.

Should I add more ammonium chloride to keep the bacteria growing? Is the cycle complete even with nitrite at 1?

What test kit are you using? Have you checked it against another kit to verify it’s not a bad one? Also, what are nitrates showing? Those may be a better determination of cycle

 

[katsreef]

What test kit are you using? Have you checked it against another kit to verify it’s not a bad one? Also, what are nitrates showing? Those may be a better determination of cycle

salifert. they are good ive been using them for my display tank. Also havent tested nitrates because of the 1 nitrite will skew the nitrate results anyways :/

 

[bushdoc]

Fritz Turbo 900 is claiming to contain nitryfying bacteria reducing ammonia and nitrite.
Nitrite are not toxic to marine fish, also your test may not be accurate.
I would add small dose of ammonia and test level immediately and 2-3 days after to see if you have enough bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite and nitrate. I would not test for Nitrite.
If ammonia drops to undetected levels, you're done and may introduce fish ( slowly).

 

[brandon429]

Yes it’s been done a while, nitrites don’t matter in reef cycling, and no the bacteria can’t starve if they’re in water in a home. All the rules you read are from old cycling science which has been updated=can reef

 

[katsreef]

Yes it’s been done a while, nitrites don’t matter in reef cycling, and no the bacteria can’t starve if they’re in water in a home. All the rules you read are from old cycling science which has been updated=can reef

okay thanks! ill have to check phosphates before i rock swap

 

[katsreef]

Fritz Turbo 900 is claiming to contain nitryfying bacteria reducing ammonia and nitrite.
Nitrite are not toxic to marine fish, also your test may not be accurate.
I would add small dose of ammonia and test level immediately and 2-3 days after to see if you have enough bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite and nitrate. I would not test for Nitrite.
If ammonia drops to undetected levels, you're done and may introduce fish ( slowly).

my ammonia has been converting immediately so I'm assuming it's cycled. I need to check phosphates. I am rock swapping in my 20g all my rocks. So I'll have 4 fish in there immediately with corals haha