Just an update and to say thanks again, I did some tests today and although the ammonia has not moved at all, on The API and NT labs there was a Nitrite reading of about .25 ppm if am reading your article correctly i think that could point to the cycle starting fingers crossed.
Cheers Glen

Sounds hopeful - crossed my fingers too! Cheers for the coffee

HI
sorry to bother you again, but i could do with a bit of advice, continuing with the cycling i tested this morning and found zero ammonia which is good, but the Nitrites were > 8.0 and the Nitrates were > 80.0 is this a normal part of the process, i dosed with ammonia back to 3ppm as per the guidance in the article, is there anything else i should do or just wait.TIA Glen

Hi

The growth of the second stage bacteria that process nitrite into nitrate is slower, so nitrite can get quite high. If you're seeing nitrate rise then the nitrite munchers are present, just not enough to have got through the accumulated nitrite yet. Back the ammonia down a bit to 2ppm and continue as before and you should start to see nitrite fall in the next week. Any questions, come back to us.

Hi there again, i have been doing as you suggested since the last time I messaged which was 11 days ago, each day ammonia is zero which I then dose up to 2ppm, the nitrites have not moved, goes purple straight away on the API test >8.0 ppm. Nitrates are strange on the same API kit it is always around 5ppm but hasn't moved, but when i test on a NT labs test Nitrates are > 80ppm I'm guessing one is reading incorrectly, is this just a waiting game or is there anything i can do ? as i am beginning to wish i hadn't started getting back into the hobby, i kept cichlids 30 years ago when there was no such thing as cycling and it seemed a whole lot easier, thanks again for your continued support.
Glen

Nitrate tests can be thrown off by high nitrite so I would think the result from the NT labs kit is most accurate. I would do a large 50% or more water change to knock the nitrite down and then continue. I would expect the cycle to complete in the next week or so.

Hi again some good news i think, i just tested my tank and results were 0ppm Ammonia, 0ppm Nitrite and around 60ppm Nitrate, i was planing on doing a large water change today to bring Nitrates down (my tap water has zero Nitrates) My question is I won't be able to purchase my fish as the supplier is isolating for 2 weeks, how do i keep it ticking over ready for fish please, once again thanks for all your help.
Glen

Great to hear it's ready Do your water change and then carry on dosing with ammonia, then another large water change to reduce nitrate again the day before you get fish.

Hi There again I eventually got tank parameters correct I have fish and all looks good, thanks so much for your invaluable help, i was wondering what medications i should purchase to have ready in case i come up against any sick fish, i would like to be prepared.
Cheers Glen

Well done. Always handy to have eSHa Exit (for Whitespot) and eSHa 2000 (for bacterial infection) - unlike other brands, these two can be used in combination if necessary.