Cycling Confusion

[shanepike]

So I set up my new 5.5g Thursday afternoon with uncured Totoka LR and Fiji pink sand. Tested the water on Friday, and I already had both nitrites (very high) and nitrates in the water. Tested it again yesterday, and nitrites had fallen just a hair, while nitrates had risen a little bit.

From all I've read, that's not at all what I expected. I thought it would be at least a week or more before I started seeing anything but ammonia (which currently appears to be very low).

Has the die-off just not started yet maybe?

 

[ralph atl]

give it 6 weeks or so....patience

 

[shanepike]

Oh, I'm patient. Not going to put anything in until it's absolutely time Just wondering why it didn't match up with anything I've read.

 

[grouper therapy]

was it rodi water?

 

[jennm]

Give it some time - don't drive yourself crazy with testing either. You've got some baseline results, give it a week or two before you test again.

Jenn

 

[shanepike]

grouper therapy;743857 wrote: was it rodi water?

I just used tap water. Should I not have?

Kidding! I just bought the salt water from Pure Reef. Since it's only a 5.5g tank, I'm not going to worry about mixing my own water. Once the cycle is done, 5 weeks of 20% weekly water changes will only cost me like $8 total</em>.

 

[grouper therapy]

ShanePike;743948 wrote: I just used tap water. Should I not have?

Kidding! I just bought the salt water from Pure Reef. Since it's only a 5.5g tank, I'm not going to worry about mixing my own water. Once the cycle is done, 5 weeks of 20% weekly water changes will only cost me like $8 total</em>.

You did good! Most all water will have some level of Nitrates and nitrites in them especially when put in new containers. Nothing to worry about as Jenn has said .