Cycling, Please Help!

[urbanfarmer]

I started planting my seedlings but then I realized I had the siphon problem which I am hoping to figure out today. (Between teaching and my small girls, I don't get to play with my aquaponics system as much as I would like.)

As for the cycling, I am concerned about my nitrites. They have been in the 5ppm range for the last week and don't appear to want to budge. The ammonium is at .25ppm and nitrates fluctuate between 10-20ppm.

Should I continue to be patient or should I be worried about my fish?

I would stop feeding the fish immediately. Wait until the nitrite drops off, even if it means waiting a week or two without feeding the fish. Brown blood disease is a potential problem.

I would do a partial water change because your test kit can only read 5+ ppm of Nitrite, which could mean it is at ANY concentration above that...

[chrisfoerst]

Great, I'm so glad I posted. Thanks! I will do that.