40 Days, Cycle Won't Start, Help!

[daizeUK]

My current hypothesis is that the chloride in the solution is interfering somehow with the API test chemical reaction.
 
Most other ammonia sources (e.g. cleaners) are ammonium hydroxide so they don't interfere with the test reagents in the same way.
 
The information I got from API (quoted 3 posts up) told me that chlorine is used in the API bottles as part of the chemical reaction, so perhaps the presence of chloride ions in the tank is messing up the test reaction?  I'm afraid my chemistry is not quite up to scratch for this, I was hoping a chemist could look at this and spot what was going on

 

[snazy]

I am not a chemist but the formula for ammonium chloride in water is this:
 
NH4Cl(s) + H2O(l) ----> NH4 + (aq) + Cl - (aq) + H2O(l)
 
Chlorides can be present in a tank one way or another via a chemical reaction with dechlorinator or carbon for example. They are the safe form of chlorine.
For example putting salt in water(NaCl) will release chloride ions as well. Certain plant fertilizers can release chlorides, etc..
So speaking from a non-educated point of view I don't see how chlorides would have anything to do with the API test

 

[daizeUK]

That's a good point and makes sense Snazy.
 
After 21 hours the bacteria don't seem to be doing much in my tank, it might be too early to tell for sure but I'm bracing myself for more disappointment.

 

[daizeUK]

Day 2, 43 hours after adding the Dr Tims bacteria.
 

 
All I can say is, thank goodness for digital cameras because I would not have noticed any drop in ammonia at all without the photos.
 
So, it's not the overnight miracle cure I was hoping for, but it is the strongest reading I've had yet.  I might not be cycled in a week but this gives me some hope that things are progressing.
 
I haven't added any more ammonium chloride yet, since I was told to add more when the ammonia levels drop to about 0.5ppm.  Hopefully that should happen in another day or two so I'll wait.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, this is progress... slow and steady...

 

[daizeUK]

Clearly Dr. Tim's bacteria aren't dead but they're not acting as fast as they should be.
 
I'm starting to suspect I have some kind of chemical inhibitory agent in my tank slowing down the nitrification process, what do you think?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'd suspect its more about age/handling.  The fact that you have progress is encouraging.  It won't be long now! 

 

[snazy]

That's a progress. I always found that taking pictures of the tests helps tracking the progress. Make sure you take them on the same settings under the same light and background.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Looks to me that you are pretty much close to bang on where you should be that fast. Clearly the ammonia has dropped and you show a bit of nitrite. lets see what the next tests show. But if things are going well you should not see much greater of a rise in trites and you should see another drop in ammonia, perhaps to 0. If so do the second dose. Bear in mind the bacteria are allowed a bit of time to recover from being somewhat dormant to oxidizing ammonia and nitrite at full capacity.
 
Incidentally, what was the date stramped on the bottle. that tells you when it was packaged. You have to allow for the fact that the farther one is from that date when they use the product, the more time it will tend to take to reach capacity performance.
 
And I do believe I told you that the people at Dr. Tim's are very good about answering customer questions. I would not be surprised if it was dr. H himself who answered.

 

[daizeUK]

Thanks guys
 
TTA - the date stamped on the bottle is BEST BY FEB 2014
So given that these things only have a shelf life of 12 months, I'd say this thing is brand new.
 
In other news, I corresponded with a nice lady at Mars Fishcare about the API kit and she is totally unaware of any problem with reading ammonium chloride.  I'll let you know if I get any more information on that.

 

[snazy]

It probably depends on what temperatures the bottle was exposed to as there may have been some die off. I remember Tetra Safe start wasn't supposed to be stored below and above certain temperature and you never know how and from where it was transported.
The fact is, it's still doing something after the "80 days tank won't cycle" (I think you should rename the thread accordingly )

 

[daizeUK]

Lol true.  It was snowing here the day before it arrived, so I feared the worst.
But you're right, after 70 days and 7 different types of chemical/biological additive dumped in my tank, I finally have LIFE!
If I rename this thread it would be "How not to fishless cycle by Daize"

 

[snazy]

There was a worse case around here ages ago but similar, the tank wouldn't go through the cycle and the OP had bought 3 or 4 tanks by that time, having nothing better to do There's always a positive side I guess.

 

[daizeUK]

I know the feeling.  I've had far too much time to think about how I want to re-aquascape.  I spent £12 on an 8-inch piece of mopani wood the other day, my husband is in despair.  I keep teasing him with plans for more tanks but we really don't have anywhere else to put one!  (Just as well really.)
 
This is probaby nowhere near the record for longest ever cycle, but I think I might be a contender for the most number of posts on a fish forum by someone who doesn't actually own fish

 

[daizeUK]

Further progress morning of day 3, ammonia is almost on the 0.5ppm mark and nitrite has dropped from purple down to blue.  I will top up the ammonia later today.
 
Really pleased with the way this is going.  TTA I think I might owe you a beer!