Aquarium Forum - View Single Post - Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes

longtail4711 · 06-27-2010, 02:04 PM

My not-planted 29 gal. tank is almost finished with it's nitrogen cycle, but I have a question:

OK, from my understanding, once I get NitrIte readings I'm supposed to keep adding a little bit of ammonia daily to keep the bacteria fed.

Except every time I do, the NitrItes spike again. Yesterday the readings were:

Amm: 0.25 to 0 ppm
NitrItes: 0.25ppm
NitrAtes: 20ppm

I added about 1/4 of a teaspoon to my 29 gal. tank.

This morning I tested the NitrItes again, and it's back up to 5.0ppm.

Did I get mixed up somewhere? Are there supposed to be repeated nitrIte spikes? From what I read it was supposed to be ONE spike. And I have Nitrate now. Do I stop putting in the ammonia or keep going?

06-27-2010, 02:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
longtail4711 longtail4711's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 128 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 16 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts	Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes My not-planted 29 gal. tank is almost finished with it's nitrogen cycle, but I have a question: OK, from my understanding, once I get NitrIte readings I'm supposed to keep adding a little bit of ammonia daily to keep the bacteria fed. Except every time I do, the NitrItes spike again. Yesterday the readings were: Amm: 0.25 to 0 ppm NitrItes: 0.25ppm NitrAtes: 20ppm I added about 1/4 of a teaspoon to my 29 gal. tank. This morning I tested the NitrItes again, and it's back up to 5.0ppm. Did I get mixed up somewhere? Are there supposed to be repeated nitrIte spikes? From what I read it was supposed to be ONE spike. And I have Nitrate now. Do I stop putting in the ammonia or keep going?