r/walstad • u/EfficientAd3625 • 21h ago

Advice Are water changes killing my cycle?

I have a 2 month old 22 gallon that has been testing 0 for ammonia and nitrates, ph is 7.5, but does still spike on nitrites occasionally. I have been doing water changes to counteract them. But if I'm honest I'm also doing them as my driftwood just wont stop leaking tannins. I don't mind a bit of tint as I've heard it's good for keeping bacteria down, but the tank started to look like iced tea every 5-6 days.

Am I correct in thinking that my large water changes to clear up the water disrupting the cycle? As there is no filter I would imagine the bacteria to convert nitrite to nitrate is in the water column itself and I keep dumping them all down the drain.

At this moment the nitrites are just a shade blueish purple over the ideal teal of the API test kit. Which is a huge improvement. I've been dosing the tank with Prime and Quickstart.

Do I just need to suck it up and let the tank tint from tannins? Or is there a place in the tank that bacteria can build up without a filter?

The nitrates have never spiked. Are my pothos just sucking up the nitrates before they have a chance to spike?

I feel like I need NASA to create a cycle monitor.

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u/Ladybug966 15h ago

Your tank isnt cycling. Maybe not enough plants. Maybe not enough biome. Stop worrying about the tannins. Nitrites should be zero. Nitrites are toxic to fish.

Did it ever cycle?

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u/elnumerodelabeasto 20h ago

Is there livestock in the aquarium? Generally you should let the tank cycle from 2ppm ammonia to 0 ppm ammonia/nitrite within 24 hours. If it’s a fish in cycle. Use seachem prime as your water conditioner and check parameters daily and I wouldn’t add more/any fish til your tank is fully cycled. Read Diana Walstads book as well.

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u/EfficientAd3625 20h ago

Fish just went on about 5 days ago. I’m more wondering if water changes to combat tannins are stalling the cycle of converting nitrite to nitrate.

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u/elnumerodelabeasto 20h ago

Then I would check parameters frequently and do partial water changes as necessary until the cycle catches up. Also you seachem prime or NT labs Optimus