Here is another one. Most who stay on top of the forums will remember my previous dilemma's with high ammonia levels that wouldn't go away, finally tested my tap water and it was coming out 4.0ppm from the tap..... Well, I finally got that under control about 5 days ago by using RO water in water changes.

Since that time, I think my cycle has finally taken off, but that brings about a new dilemma..... I think my nitrite level is way too high and I can't get it any lower than atleast 5.0ppm, actually the color of water in the test tube goes darker purple than what's on the chart. This morning I did a 50% RO water change, now 5 hours later, nitrite level still deep purple at or above the 5.0ppm mark.

Is this a stage that is just normal in going through a cycle or should I be doing something to try and knock it down a point or three ?

First of all, don't be sorry for asking questions. That is how you learn.

The nitrite spike/drop takes the longest in the cycle. You can do water changes to bring it down, or you can wait it out. That part is up to you, but yes it does sound normal.

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

OK great, I really appreciate how helpful and informative everyone has been. The deep purple is more close to the 8.8 on the API high range pH scale and that's what has had me worried since it's off the charts on the nitrite scale....... I'll stay with the water changes and ride it out...... THANKS AGAIN !!!!

I would do nothing until the nitrItes drop down. that included adding food.

__________________
fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

If there is fish in there, you have no choice but to do something if you want to keep them alive. The sad part is that every time you were adding the high ammonia water, your tank was taking care of it and the result was the high nitrite. Your actual nitrite level is well above 5 and that is why even when you do a 50% water change it's right back to 5ppm. I will caution you, as I think I did in your other thread also, doing water changes with 100% RO is dangerous to your ph. It will depend on how good the RO unit used is. If it has managed to completely strip all minerals and kh is zero, your ph will bottom out. Check your ph and make sure it is not jumping all over the place.

jrman83, yes I did take note in the other post and have been keeping an eye on that level as well as making an average of 3 qts RO water to 1 qt tap water when doing the water changes. I don't know if that's a help or a hurt by keeping a little tap water with all it's junk still in it, but my Ph levels so far have been rock steady at about 7.6 or maybe a tad bit lower.

still sounds exactly like what happened to me with mine untill i added tetra safe start, it really wouldnt hurt..

__________________
10g- 2 hi-fin fm platys, 3 koi & red wag sword fry
40g Breeder- 6 danios, 4 female swords, 1 male swords
"I was born with nothin and I still got most of it left."- Seasick Steve