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  Thanks for asking this.  5ppm has been the standard for a very long time.  As long as I can remember (over a decade).  When I read the fishless cycling article on this site I was a little surprised to see someone decided to change that to 3ppm (It used to be 5ppm years back).  Even the dosing...

No it's not too much.  In fact it's a little on the low end.  You want to aim at around 5 times turn over per hour of water through your filter.  This means the water in your tank should go through your filter at least 5 times in one hour.     The filter you have is rated at 303 gph (gallons per...

Welcome.   First thing first.  Make sure you understand the nitrogen cycle so you can do a proper fishless cycle.  A proper fishless cycle takes about 4-6 weeks on average.  So make sure you get your tank about 1 1/2 months before getting fish so you can cycle it. Read my book on setting up a...

Keep up the good work.  It always feels good when things are going the way they are suppose to.  :)

What time yesterday did you dose the ammonia?  Wait until that time again today and dose again. (25 hours)

If you want, feel free to read the attached on setting up and cycling a tank.    

Yep.  Allow the tank to run it's course.  Check tomorrow around the same time. Feel free to open the attached link on the ebook I wrote about fish keeping.  :)

  Yes, having plants in during a cycle is not a good idea.  Plants will actually use the ammonia and nitrate as a source of nutrients.  So plants will skew your results or stop your cycle all together. 

  I don't fully agree with the fishless cycling article they have here on the site, that is why I posted my article above which I pulled directly out of my book.  I'm not saying it won't work because it will.  I'm saying is that it's not very clear and after reading it I can see why some people...

Exactly.  Let's see if the OP will post readings.

It's a good idea not to have any plants in the tank while cycling it.  Glad to hear ammonia is dropping.  Just keep at it and it will work you.

New filter?  How new?  Do you have mature filter media in the filter or new filter media?  I wouldn't worry so much about your pH levels and worry more about your Ammonia and Nitrite levels.  What test kit do you have?  Can you give us some solid numbers on Ammonia and Nitrite?    Anyone else...

Hello and welcome to the forum.   I'm going to "get on your case" a little here lol.  First of all, if the filter you installed was brand new, your tank was not cycled in a week.  It takes on average 4 - 6 weeks to properly cycle a tank.     What test kit are you using?  Strip test kits are...

Please open the attached link to see a table, I made, for ammonia dosage by tank size.  save it on your computer or print it out so you will always have it.  

As advised above, you need to stop dosing ammonia so frequently.  You only need to dose it on the 24 hour mark.     Please read this article I wrote a few years back:   Fishless cycling: Since fish produce ammonia and since ammonia is what the Autotrophic bacteria need to start the nitrogen...

As above, it is like doing a large water change.  However, there are somethings to keep in mind.  When moving autotropic bacteria from one water source to another, we have to look at pH and hardness of the water.  This stuff can be tested and measured but it's not really going to matter a whole...

Hello.  Sorry to hear about the cycling issue.  Short answer, no, don't start over.  Changing the water will not affect the cycling because the autotropic bacteria colonize on surfaces, such as filter media, and only a very small amount are suspended in the water column.   I need some more...

... Sorry for the post. 

I would say to keep doing what you are doing.  I forgot the correct correlations but for like every 1 ppm of ammonia processed it goes to like 2-3 ppm of nitrite.  So you have, theoretically processed about 8-10ppm of nitrite.  So the NOB's are there and they are doing their job.  Keep in eye on...

Ok thanks.  Will do. 

I would add some ammonia.  Then check it in 12 hours or so.  

Yeah.  Get an otto and he will clean it up.  Just to be safe, check ammonia levels, too. 

Thanks for the response.  I may take some time and re do all this but, then again, I need to find time to do so.  I would like to rent the books that were mentioned here and read through those and get a better idea at what is going on.  Thanks again for the response, chrisbassist!

I agree with what was said above.  Nothing harmfull by any means so don't worry. 

  That is correct.  If you doa  90% water change the NOB's will still work on the nitrite that is there after the water change.  Then, yes, dose back up to 5 ppm of ammonia.  Let it sit for now as you said and see what it looks like tomorrow.

I agree.  Move the babies to a seperate tank so no harm will come to them.  And still do the water chagne. 

This is cool.  There is more than one way to fishless cycle a tank.  I guess if both work just as good, by all means do the one you feel is better. 

  Taking water form an already established tank is not going to do anything beause the bacteria we colonize do so on surfaces,  These bacteria live on surfaces and are NOT free swimming.  The only way to transfer the bacteria from your tank to his is by giving him some of your filter medai.   He...

lol yeah I saw this.  Read me EDIT on the previous comment.

Why do you want to use spring water?  And yes, most water conditioners also contain trace elements for the fish.  5ppm of ammonia I am assuming?  For a cycling tank that is where you want to put the ammonia at.  So keep the ammonia at 5 ppm and let the autotrophic bacteria do their thing.  ...

Okay thanks I will. 

I can see where the carbon media will be fine for colonizing bacteria.  But the affect of the carbon (adsorbing chemicals) will stop after a couple weeks or so.  But the physical structure of the carbon will remain for bacteria to colonize.  But that's it.  No physical filtration at all.  I...

That is strange for sure.  Have you doubled checked the levels again (possible to have human error).  Dose ammonia up to 5 ppm if it is for sure at 0 ppm.     And he hasn't done any water changes?  There maybe something in the tank that is giving off ammonia?  What does he have for substrate and...

What test kit are you using and do you have plants in the tank?  I would also suggest a better source of ammonia.    Has your brother added any water conditioner?  Your readings do not make a whole lot of sense.  Please give us more information.  Thanks.  :)

Will do.  I looked aorund a little so far but there is too much to understand in a day. This will take sometime.  I might also contact some comapnies and see if they can't help me out.  Or posibably tour their facilities.  I will keep this updated but it might be sometime.

Just read over this thread and it looks like you got some great help.  Here is a little section I pulled from my book I wrote on Fish Keeping.    "A very common occurence in a newly set up tank is a Baterial Bloom.  This is where the water seems hazy/cloudy.  At this point, beginner fish keepers...

Carbon filters adsorb things in the water... chemicals... tannins... so forth.  Over time, which is not too long (a week or so mybe more), the carbon will become "full" and can no longer adsorb from the water. 

Okay thanks a lot for your help!

Awesome.  Thank you for that.  I just wish there was a place I could go to learn more about this.  Google is not the best for finding these types of answers unless, maybe, I dig really deep and search around.  So all the advice here is much appreciated.