Skimmer Question

[squiggz98]

I am toward the end of my cycle i think at least. i had some algae growth so i wipped some of it lose and now my nitrite has gone back up to .25 it was at 0 is that normal. and now my skimmer is going crazy the cup filled up in like 4 hours tonight. Is that because of the algae thing? What should i do? I read in a book that i should do a 25 to 50 % water change when nitrite drops to 0 is this true
Thank you one of these days i will get this cycle thing right.

[ick sucks]

I think what happed is this. the algae you wiped clean absorbed the nitrates when it grew. by wiping it caused the algae to release them back into the tank. your skimmer does the same as mine when i wipe the glass clean.its just removing the alga in the tank that you wiped off the glass. usually its a green liquid in the skimmer; thats the algae you wiped off. the nitites are a problem if you have any fish in there. i would do a water change if there is fish.

[squiggz98]

no fish still in the cycle process about 2.5 weeks in and ammonia is 0 and nitrite just went back to .25. just waiting around

[saltjunkie]

if your only 2 weeks in.... you werent through the cycle yet..