Aquarium is stuck on a nitrite spike
I am attempting a fishless cycle on a small nano planted tank that is getting stuck on extremely high levels of nitrite. The tank has been set up for about two weeks now.
I am not dosing ammonia. I have two nertile snails in the tank that are creating some waste so I get my ammonia from that and they are controlling any algae that might happen. My ammonia levels are usually always around 0.25ppm
After a water change the nitrite spikes within 24 hours and then the nitrate will spike about 24-48 hours after that however, the nitrite is still at extremely high levels even after the nitrate spikes.
Is this a patience game, waiting for the good bacteria to build and catch up to the output of nitrites? I have heard to do a water change when the nitrates get to high but I don't want to disrupt the nitrite level in possibly letting good bacteria to colonize.
Any help on this would be awesome!
Thanks!
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It can take 4-6 weeks for your aquarium to cycle. So you just need to wait.
You don't need to do any water changes, this is only required when doing a cycle with fish so the ammonia/nitrite is kept low.
All you need to do is keep the ammonia up. Test your tank every day and if ammonia is below 2 ppm then top it up to 2 ppm. (you need to keep feeding the bacteria which is producing ammonia or they will die off)
Once ammonia/nitrites go to zero within 24 hours of being 2 ppm then you are cycled.
You just need to be patient.
Basically it is indeed a patience game.
But how often do you change the water, and how much? Since your doing a fishless cycle (which is indeed the recommened way to do it), you don't actually have to do water changes. If you replace to much water, it's indeed possible that your cycling has to start all over again every time.
Just let it rest for about 3-4 weeks and then check the nitrite levels. By then they should already start decreasing/be zero.
You can also find more information in this answer: How does one effectively "cycle" an aquarium?
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