Nitrites not coming down

[Tommy_B]

NH3/NH4+ finally at 0 but my Nitrites are getting higher and higher. I guess I need to wait longer before the nitrification process has completed? Also my pH refuses to come below 8.3. Not sure why that is...

[RupertofOZ]

Now your ammonia has fallen to zero... your nitrifying bacteria will begin to convert the nitrites to nitrates... and they should fall off to zero...

A parallel consequence of nitrification... is acidification.... although with a pH of 8.3... you system has almost certainly a large "buffering" capacity.... and until that buffering capacity is used... your pH wont alter substantially...

When it does... it'll will probally fall quite quickly...

[TheNative]

I read somewhere that a high PH can inhibit the bacteria. Perhaps that is why the nitrites aren't converting to nitrates.

[RupertofOZ]

Indeed they may.... but nitrification to nitrates wont happen until ammonia disappears anyway

[francois]

Originally Posted by Tommy_B

NH3/NH4+ finally at 0 but my Nitrites are getting higher and higher. I guess I need to wait longer before the nitrification process has completed? Also my pH refuses to come below 8.3. Not sure why that is...

when i started with aquaponics

for me to get a good understanding of the cycle
i plotted all checked data on a grath
ammonia nitrite and nitrate
this gives a person good insight to the way the cycle devellops and the time it takes to get system running (process to complete)
when seeing it on a grath makes it clear to understand
worked for me
just me thinking

[RupertofOZ]

Yep... the basic curves has been plotted by many... and posted frequently...

Here it is again... and the ammonia chart as well

[Tommy_B]

Rupe,
Thanks for the time-line. That puts my mind at ease.