humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I have had my Biocube 14 gallon cycling for 3 weeks and 2 days now and the nitrites are at about 0.2. I did a big water change on Saturday, about 35-40% and about a 15% yesterday. But I really haven't seen much change. Does anyone have any advice? Link to comment
HecticDialectics Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 more massive water changes? are you using ro/di water for the water change? edit: if its nitrites and not nitrates, you're just still cycling listen to everyone below Link to comment
jimbro Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I have had my Biocube 14 gallon cycling for 3 weeks and 2 days now and the nitrates are at about 0.2. I did a big water change on Saturday, about 35-40% and about a 15% yesterday. But I really haven't seen much change. Does anyone have any advice? wat Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 wat Nitrite, my bad.... Link to comment
jimbro Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 don't do any water changes until your tank cycles unless you're trying to do a soft cycle, in which case just keep doing what you're doing until you don't see any nitrites Link to comment
BKtomodachi Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 jimbo what are you doing? did flo explode the lounge w/ 20K or something? Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 more massive water changes? are you using ro/di water for the water change? No I have very clean water at my house so I don't use it yet, but when I get fish I will. jimbo what are you doing? did flo explode the lounge w/ 20K or something? ? Link to comment
jimbro Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 jimbo what are you doing? did flo explode the lounge w/ 20K or something? nah just bored now that i don't have a tank i'm suddenly way more interested in reefy stuff this is the first time since i was like 5 that i've been without a tank Link to comment
BKtomodachi Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 You should use RO/DI water the entire time- doesn't matter if there are fish or not. Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 don't do any water changes until your tank cycles unless you're trying to do a soft cycle, in which case just keep doing what you're doing until you don't see any nitrites Darn, so all I should do is wait? Link to comment
BKtomodachi Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 nah just bored now that i don't have a tank i'm suddenly way more interested in reefy stuff this is the first time since i was like 5 that i've been without a tank hey, it happens. I found out its actually pretty fun lol. Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Add a pinch of sugar. Seriously, I just added 2 tsp to my 140, and they dropped from 1 to .125 in 24hrs. No effect on the fish. Cycle was taking just too long, and this more than accelerated it. Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 You should use RO/DI water the entire time- doesn't matter if there are fish or not. OK I will. Link to comment
jimbro Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Darn, so all I should do is wait? yep is there anything besides rock in the tank? Link to comment
Scott Riemer Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Darn, so all I should do is wait? Yes, until your ammonia and nitrite are zero. Edit: jimbo beat me to it. Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 Add a pinch of sugar. Seriously, I just added 2 tsp to my 140, and they dropped from 1 to .125 in 24hrs. No effect on the fish. Cycle was taking just too long, and this more than accelerated it. Really? How much should I add to a 14 gallon? Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 This talks about Nitrates, but it works for Nitrites too. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...mp;pagenumber=1 Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 yep is there anything besides rock in the tank? Nope, just 12 lbs of rock and that's it. The guy at the fish store wouldn't even sell me a cleaning crew until it's ready. Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Just a pinch litterally. Link to comment
jimbro Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Nope, just 12 lbs of rock and that's it. The guy at the fish store wouldn't even sell me a cleaning crew until it's ready. wow, good fish store so yeah, just wait or follow calvin's advice. either or but patience is a virtue Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 More info on this technique and how it works... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php Sugar is a carbon source to rapidly increase the amount bacteria in the tank. Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 This talks about Nitrates, but it works for Nitrites too. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...mp;pagenumber=1 Tarter sauce!!!! I don't have a protein skimmer though : ( Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Ooo, yeah looks like you'll need to wait, although without any fish you might be okay to try it. Just a tiny amount will probably still help. The skimmer is to help keep O2 levels up for livestock, but if you don't have any it might work. Link to comment
humatrigger Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 wow, good fish store so yeah, just wait or follow calvin's advice. either or but patience is a virtue Yeah I was proud that I finally found a store more worried about keeping stuff alive than money. ..... spongebob? yep, I knew someone would catch it Ooo, yeah looks like you'll need to wait, although without any fish you might be okay to try it. Just a tiny amount will probably still help. The skimmer is to help keep O2 levels up for livestock, but if you don't have any it might work. I was going to buy one yesterday to. Thanks. Link to comment
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