Advice with cycling

[KingK]

Hi guys I need some advice, Im doing a fishless cycle with ammonia, i have a 64liter tank with fuval u2 filter, Jbl aqua plus and Mando substrate i addd ammonia on day 1 got it up to 4ppm I’m now on day 7, my ammonia doesn’t seem to be going down, it’s between 3/4ppm, but I’m getting readings of nitrite 1ppm and nitrate 40/50ppm , is this a good sign? Has the cycle started?

Thanks

 

[Guppylover3x]

Hi guys I need some advice, Im doing a fishless cycle with ammonia, i have a 64liter tank with fuval u2 filter, Jbl aqua plus and Mando substrate i addd ammonia on day 1 got it up to 4ppm I’m now on day 7, my ammonia doesn’t seem to be going down, it’s between 3/4ppm, but I’m getting readings of nitrite 1ppm and nitrate 40/50ppm , is this a good sign? Has the cycle started?

Thanks

Hello and welcome to the forum. It’s always better to let the tank cycle naturally rather than adding ammonia in. I’d continue to check peramters everyday. Best of luck.

 

[steelo]

Hi guys I need some advice, Im doing a fishless cycle with ammonia, i have a 64liter tank with fuval u2 filter, Jbl aqua plus and Mando substrate i addd ammonia on day 1 got it up to 4ppm I’m now on day 7, my ammonia doesn’t seem to be going down, it’s between 3/4ppm, but I’m getting readings of nitrite 1ppm and nitrate 40/50ppm , is this a good sign? Has the cycle started?

Thanks

Normally, your nitrite readings will go way up long before your nitrates even register. Something seems off here, you shouldn't have 40-50 ppm nitrates after only 7 days unless you're using media from another tank. Also, your ammonia should be at zero if it is that far into the cycle. I'd test your tap water to see what your reading show. I linked a very good step by step guide on how to properly cycle by adding ammonia and doing lots of waiting.

http://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/

 

[Guppylover3x]

Normally, your nitrite readings will go way up long before your nitrates even register. Something seems off here, you shouldn't have 40-50 ppm nitrates after only 7 days unless you're using media from another tank. Also, your ammonia should be at zero if it is that far into the cycle. I'd test your tap water to see what your reading show. I linked a very good step by step guide on how to properly cycle by adding ammonia and doing lots of waiting.

http://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/

I agree, I’ve never done a cycle this way but there is definitely something strange about your nitrates being so high within 7 days.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Hello and welcome to the forum. It’s always better to let the tank cycle naturally rather than adding ammonia in. I’d continue to check peramters everyday. Best of luck.

You have to use ammonia or fish food in a fishless cycle or you won’t have an ammonia source. OP, Did you add bottled bacteria or filter media/gravel from another tank? Are you shaking your testing solution bottles really well before testing? What are you testing with?

 

[Guppylover3x]

You have to use ammonia or fish food in a fishless cycle or you won’t have an ammonia source. OP, Did you add bottled bacteria or filter media/gravel from another tank? Are you shaking your testing solution bottles really well before testing? What are you testing with?

Thanks for confirming.

 

[KingK]

Normally, your nitrite readings will go way up long before your nitrates even register. Something seems off here, you shouldn't have 40-50 ppm nitrates after only 7 days unless you're using media from another tank. Also, your ammonia should be at zero if it is that far into the cycle. I'd test your tap water to see what your reading show. I linked a very good step by step guide on how to properly cycle by adding ammonia and doing lots of waiting.

http://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/

Thanks for the reply I’ve tested my water straight from the tap also Its showing zero nitrite, I’m not using any media or gravel from a other tank

 

[KingK]

You have to use ammonia or fish food in a fishless cycle or you won’t have an ammonia source. OP, Did you add bottled bacteria or filter media/gravel from another tank? Are you shaking your testing solution bottles really well before testing? What are you testing with?

I’m using 9.5% ammonia , I used bottle bacteria (safe start ) at the beginning, I didn’t add any media/gravel from a other tank, yes I’m shanking my testing solution, I’m testing with api testing kit, my ammonia has dropped to between 2/3ppm

 

[FishGuest5123]

Sounds like your moving in the right direction now. Maybe the bottled bacteria didn’t get shaken enough or something. Keep us posted!

 

[KingK]

Sounds like your moving in the right direction now. Maybe the bottled bacteria didn’t get shaken enough or something. Keep us posted!

Yeah maybe, would you say from looking at the picture that the ammonia is 2ppm?

 

[KingK]

One is with flash and one without

 

[FishGuest5123]

Yes, I agree with 2ppm.

 

[KingK]

Yes, I agree with 2ppm.

Fantastic thanks, do you guys think it’s better to finish of the cycle first before adding live plants?

 

[steelo]

Fantastic thanks, do you guys think it’s better to finish of the cycle first before adding live plants?

I wouldn't add any plants until it is fully cycled. The tank is not cycled until both nitrites and ammonia are back to zero. Nitrates most likely will be very high and you would need to do a large water change at that point to dilute.

 

[FishGuest5123]

You could do plants now but they will eat some of the nitrates. Might want to hold off on plants since you a had a rough start. They can eat up nitrates that you are trying to measure right now. They’ll be great after cycle is established.