Hello, I’m working through a cycle and have a few questions.
first, I have 0 ammonia and nitrates have been stuck above 5.0 ppm nitrite for about 2 weeks now. I saw somewhere that high nitrites can actually stall a cycle and I’m wondering if I should do a water change to cut them down? My nitrates have just started showing up on my tests about 2 days ago and they’re currently at about 10 ppm. I’m using sinking pellets to seed the nitrogen cycle and there’s quite a few still in the tank, so I’m thinking that a water change can’t hurt since it should still be in equilibrium as the pellets will still be feeding the nitrogen cycle.
second, as I’ve been cycling, I’ve had my skimmer off. I just turned it on yesterday (about 3 weeks into the cycle) and I’m wondering if that was the right move or not?
third, I’ve been running a carbon bag in the media basket throughout the cycle. Is that a good move or not? Also, how often should I be replacing it?
fourth, I bought the tank secondhand and it came with a box that had square shaped cylinders of a very porous and brittle substance. I have no idea what it is as the box is in Chinese but I just assumed it probably goes in the media basket as some sort of filtration or possibly surface area for the bacteria to live in. Anyone have any idea what it is and if I should be changing it?
last, is there such thing as too much food in the tank to seed the nitrogen cycle? I don’t have a ton of it in there, but I’m wondering if I should swap my filter that is a bit gunned up with decomposing food or if this would slow down the cycle. This is my first post so I’ll see if I can attach a picture to go along with question number four. Thank you in advance and happy reefing!
first, I have 0 ammonia and nitrates have been stuck above 5.0 ppm nitrite for about 2 weeks now. I saw somewhere that high nitrites can actually stall a cycle and I’m wondering if I should do a water change to cut them down? My nitrates have just started showing up on my tests about 2 days ago and they’re currently at about 10 ppm. I’m using sinking pellets to seed the nitrogen cycle and there’s quite a few still in the tank, so I’m thinking that a water change can’t hurt since it should still be in equilibrium as the pellets will still be feeding the nitrogen cycle.
second, as I’ve been cycling, I’ve had my skimmer off. I just turned it on yesterday (about 3 weeks into the cycle) and I’m wondering if that was the right move or not?
third, I’ve been running a carbon bag in the media basket throughout the cycle. Is that a good move or not? Also, how often should I be replacing it?
fourth, I bought the tank secondhand and it came with a box that had square shaped cylinders of a very porous and brittle substance. I have no idea what it is as the box is in Chinese but I just assumed it probably goes in the media basket as some sort of filtration or possibly surface area for the bacteria to live in. Anyone have any idea what it is and if I should be changing it?
last, is there such thing as too much food in the tank to seed the nitrogen cycle? I don’t have a ton of it in there, but I’m wondering if I should swap my filter that is a bit gunned up with decomposing food or if this would slow down the cycle. This is my first post so I’ll see if I can attach a picture to go along with question number four. Thank you in advance and happy reefing!
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