7 Weeks Into Fishless Cycle --- Results Inconclusive -- What To Do?

[librarygirl]

Well something may be happening....either that or I'm really bad at reading the ammonia APi test lol

On Wednesday night I did a 90% water change and used Tetra Aquasafe instead of Prime. I also added baking soda and got my PH up to 8.2. I then re-dosed ammonia to about 2; I'm having a really hard time matching these greens. It was definitely darker than 1 after I redosed, so it was at least 1.5-2. I'm thinking closer to 2, but again it's very hard to match those colors exactly.

On Thursday night I only tested PH and ammonia. Ph is steady at 8.2. Ammonia seemed like it dropped to 1. Now, if I really redosed to 2 and it dropped to 1, then that's more conversion than I've had. If I only redosed to 1.5 and it dropped to 1, then it's the same .5 drop. I honestly couldn't tell.

Last night I tested everything:

Ph still at 8.2
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0-2 (hard to tell, not golden yellow but not 5 either. I've done some pwc the past week so maybe I just haven't given them enough time to build back up, but I did have darker orange before, so not sure where my nitrates went).
Ammonia: 0.25-.5. Again, very hard to tell. If I had to pick one I'd say closer to 0.25. So again if it was truly 1 on Thursday and 0.25 last night, that's more of a drop than I've had.

I'm not going to get excited yet, b/c I'm still not sure I'm reading these colors correctly. I'm running out of the ammonia test so I'm going to pick another up today. I'm also going to see if they have another brand Ammonia test and get a different kind just to compare and see if I can get a more accurate reading.

I'm getting another seeded sponge filter on Monday. I'll probably squeeze it out over my current filter media and then put the sponge into the tank hooked up to an airline.

The other thing I have to consider is my water source, whether or not to change it to spring. I'm going to test ammonia again over the next couple of days; if I'm right and conversion is happening faster I'll leave it alone. If I was wrong and conversion is the same as it was then I think I might change out the water on Sunday before I get the seeded filter and see if that does anything. Changing my water source is the only other thing I haven't tried yet.

Thanks everyone.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Squeeze both sponges over the other filter.

 

[librarygirl]

Squeeze both sponges over the other filter.

Ok I'll do that, thanks.

I guess I must have read the tests wrong the last couple of days (either that or conversion is slowing again).

Tonight's ammonia is more like 0.25, maybe between 0.25 and .5. Which means it didn't drop much from last night, if at all.

I'm just not sure what to do anymore. The only other thing I haven't tried changing is my water source; I may switch to spring water tomorrow, depending on expense (for a 20 gal tank that's a lot of water and a lot of jug carrying), and then see if the new seeded sponge helps any.

If it doesn't I'm out of ideas and way out of patience. Today is week 8, btw.

Two weeks from today I'm either going to try getting a few small fish or take a hammer to my tank, decor, filters, and equipment. I'm leaning toward the latter (I don't think it would be fair to put fish in my tank as it is now).

I guess for some reason I''m not meant to have fish.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would say, just redose when ammonia hits 0.25ppm. Give it a little more time. It will happen... unfortunately, it is a question of when.

 

[nehpets81]

I would say, just redose when ammonia hits 0.25ppm. Give it a little more time. It will happen... unfortunately, it is a question of when.

+1

 

[waterdrop]

+2

 

[XeroTolerance]

+3...

 

[librarygirl]

Thanks everyone. It's just that after two months of this I would have thought something more would/should be happening by now.

Just to make sure I've covered all bases I've changed the water to spring water (I made sure it has minerals in it but nothing else added). Conversion seems to have stopped though (I redosed to 2-3 on Sunday after I changed out the water); PH is over 7.6. I should be receiving another seeded sponge filter either today or tomorrow. I'm going to squeeze it over my current filter media and then attach it to the airline and add it to the tank. I might cut up the current one I have in there and put it in my filters. I'm just not sure what's happening, 8 weeks is a long time not to have nitrites or much conversion at all. I guess we'll see if changing the water and adding more media helps. If it doesn't, I'm out of ideas and patience. Thanks everyone.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

any updates?

 

[librarygirl]

any updates?

Yep and good ones!!!!

Last Sunday I changed my water over to spring water, just in case something in my tap water was hindering the bacteria. The ammonia continued to drop slowly, no sign of nitrites so I was discouraged.

On Thursday I received another seeded sponge filter (Angels Plus). I had another seeded sponge filter I had gotten a month ago; I cut it up and put some pieces in my current filter and tossed the rest. With the new seeded sponge, I kept dipping it into the water it came in and squeezed the contents over my current filter media in both filters. I then hooked up the filter to the air pump and put it into the tank.

Last night:

Ammonia: 0.5 (dropped from 1-1.5 the night before, so nothing much new there)
NitrIte: .5!!! PURPLE!!
Nitrate: 10-20!!!

Woohoo!! I'm super excited. This is my FIRST EVER PURPLE TUBE!!!

I'm hoping things continue to progress. I'm super worried that it's going to disappear, that there's something in/not in my tank that isn't supporting the bacteria properly, but I changed everything else other than the water since the last time I received seeded media. So hopefully the change to spring water is helping. Thanks everyone. I'll continue to post updates. Hopefully things get better from here!!

 

[XeroTolerance]

Congrats!!!

 

[librarygirl]

Congrats!!!

Thanks Xero!

More purple tonight:

Ammonia: .5
NitrIte: 1
Nitrate: 20-30
I'm worried though, why isn't ammonia dropping? It was .5-1 last night, and it's .5 tonight. But nitrites and nitrate are rising. Shouldn't ammonia be dropping? I had expected 0 tonight, but I didn't even get 0.25. Should I be worried? (I am anyway lol)

LOVING the purple tube though!!

 

[Miles_hot]

LB, sometimes the results don't seem to make arithmetic sense (no matter than you know that 1ppm ammonia goes to 2.something Nitrite etc). This is nothing to worry about to be honest. The bacteria take in some elements to act as building blocks for themselves and I'm sure that they also store it away in secret "this-will-fox-them" stores to release later

So glad that you're seeing some results - I suspect that you will still have a long cycle even though you have now visibly started so expect the worst and be happily surprised if it goes quickly

Miles

 

[librarygirl]

More pretty colors!!!

The nitrItes have been rising the past few days, same with nitrate. Starting a two days ago it looks like ammonia is now dropping 1 per night instead of .5 so a bit more conversion there (assuming I'm reading the test right lol)

Tonight's numbers:

Ammonia: 1 (down from 2 last night, 3 the night before, 4 the night before that when I redosed)
NitrIte: 5 (not off-chart yet, but matches the highest color)
NitrAte: 40 (up from 30 last night)
PH. 7.4-7.6

Woohooo!!! Maybe I could start thinking about what fish to get? Or maybe I shouldn't jinx it yet lol

 

[XeroTolerance]

If I were you I would start thinking about what fish your getting! Just to keep your mind off the excitement of finishing your cycle.