Nitrite Help

[jesusq]

I started to build a new tank and started from scratch around 3 months ago. I have dried rocks and dried sand.
I followed the Dr. Tim One and Only bacteria, and feeding a small amount of ammonia to keep the bacteria alive. I have never added any live goods to the tank yet. I also filtered my water with a 5 stage RODI BRS filter and am getting 0 DTS.
Testing, the ammonia soon started nitrate and then nitrite, and then the ammonia disappeared which I don?t quite understand, but while still feeding a small amount of ammonia as recommended, there was minimal traces of ammonia, yet Nitrite was off the scale. I had it tested by a LFS, and they recommended me to do about 30% water change, then a 50% water change and lastly a complete system rebuild. What I did was dried everything again, it?s been two weeks since the rocks and sand has been dried. Should I re-use the sand?

Anything I can do to make sure that the nitrite won?t spike and stay off the scale again?

 

[Dre]

Benificial bacteria break down ammonia to nitrite that's why the ammonia disappeared, nitrite is then broken down to less toxic nitrate. I think you got bad advice, you should have stopped adding bacteria. and leave the tank alone let it cycle. Once the nitrite is gone it will not come back unless you add or remove sand, add uncured rock.

 

[Dan_P]

I would reuse everything.

Three months to cycle seems extremely long and then getting stuck at the nitrite stage has got to be frustrating. You have the patience of Job to wait three months! Try again but get advice sooner to nudge the tank's ecosystem along. If nitrites are not going down a week or so after they start to climb, get help.

I wonder if other forum members ever heard of a system getting stuck.

 

[Dre]

Plant some Dragon's Breath Algae in there...

 

[EddieSage]

I would get some water from an established as well.