New system

[Verna Gross]

After fishless cycling for almost 3 weeks we finally have Nitrites but very little Nitrates. Can we introduce our fish yet? My grow beds have been planted with seeds and are doing great and we have active plant growth. My water is pH 7.4, ammonia 2 ,nitrite .50 Nitrate .5. Temp 78

[Alex Veidel]

Wait for your ammonia levels to drop below .5ppm. Are you adding ammonia every day? And I would lower your pH a tad as well. Shoot for 6.8-7.0. Once your ammonia and nitrite levels disappear, go ahead and add your fish :)

[Verna Gross]

Thanks. I haven't added ammonia in 2 days. Yesterday was the first day the nitrites showed up and today there was nitrates for the first time.
We finally established heat to our FT and that made everything start working!

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I wouldn't lower you PH... it will fall naturally over time with the acidification that happens as the bacteria go to work. I would wait until your ammonia levels reach zero with in 24 hours of dosing with ammonia. You will know then you have a robust bacteria colonies. You should also see a nitrite spike and then drop... I don't think you have seen the spike yet.

[Verna Gross]

Should I still be adding ammonia daily?

[Alex Veidel]

Yep, keep adding the same amount of ammonia every day.

[Joel Traas]

I'm in the same boat, except I just started cycling a week ago, ammonia levels are staying steady and I add the same amount daily, when should I start testing for nitrates? My kit came with a nitrite test but no nitrate test.

[Verna Gross]

Still very few to no nitrates. Ammonia stays around 4 ppm and nitrites are rising they were up to 1 ppm today & yesterday. PH staying in the 7.4 range. I am adding ammonia daily as well patience I assume!

[Verna Gross]

I have resolved to myself that even though we have been cycling fishless for 4 weeks now we officially started on Sunday when we finally got the FT temp above 50. MY plants are all doing really well and I haven't had any show signs of stress. My transplants are growing and my seed starts are popping up daily. I need to be patient

[Verna Gross]

The nitrites show up way before the nitrates. I am trying to be patient waiting for the nitrates to show up I keep adding ammonia daily to feed the nitrites (I believe) and I hope the nitrates show up and then the ammonia and nitrites will go to zero and I can introduce some fish

Joel Traas said:

I'm in the same boat, except I just started cycling a week ago, ammonia levels are staying steady and I add the same amount daily, when should I start testing for nitrates? My kit came with a nitrite test but no nitrate test.

:D :)

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I would hold off on adding more ammonia. I believe that I learned that too much ammonia can actually slow down the cycle. Keep it below 4ppm until you get you nitrite spike then let the ammonia go to zero. Then dose again up to 2ppm and when it goes to zero in about 24 hours it is safe for fish.

[Verna Gross]

Nitrites went up overnight with slight rise in nitrates (still just a trace) and ammonia is around 4 or less. I won't dose for a few days and see what happens. My garden is loving whatever I am doing

[Verna Gross]

Nitrites are up to 2+ and ammonia stays around 4 pH 7.2 and still just a trace of nitrate. I haven't added ammonia in 2 days --am I doing everything okay? Would love to add one fish but don't want them to die.