Another question about my cycling tank

[Liz05]

It didn't take me long at all to get an ammonia reading. But even with my old filter cartridge and old gravel in there, its not going down. It's been a couple of weeks, when will it start to drop?

 

[ChrisP]

I think it depends, but I wouldnt be surprised if it took upto a month or so maybe longer, I could be wrong though....

 

[Lithril]

The ammonia at the very least should have started to go down by now (only took me a couple of days) , make sure you're not adding too much and overloading the bacteria, I had that problem and it took me ages to find out what the problem was.
Have you tested for Nitrites to see if any are being produced???

 

[Liz05]

My source of ammonia is only rotting fish food, which I only added once. It has dropped, but only very very slightly. I was using a simple ammonia test kit until I started to see the ammonia drop a lot, then use a test strip to test other levels, because test trips are expensive. Should I go ahead and use one, though?

 

[Juggernaut22988]

Use the chemicals that lower ammonia

You should now change your carbon filter (new one)

Dont do any water changes yet

 

[Liz05]

I have ammo lock, should I use that?
I don't have a running filter in the tank now, the stupid one that came with it doesnt work. The old filter cartridge is just hanging in there, along with some old rocks. I haven't done any water changes.

 

[Gunnie]

I would use the ammo lock only as a last resort. It will alter your ammonia readings unless you use a test kit which can test both salt and fresh water. I have used a product called Ammonia/Nitrite Eliminator by Acquamarine with great results. It says it's a bacteria-based product. It's not an instant cycle, but when I had a high ammonia reading with fish in the tank, I bought this stuff out of desperation. I was having to do massive water changes twice a day just to get the ammonia below toxic levels. After doing a 50% water change, I added this stuff to my tank and within 2 days, my ammo readings were back to zero. I added three times the recommended dosage after calling the company. He said you can't overdose this product. Just though this might help!

 

[Lithril]

Ok you don't want to reduce the ammonia really (unless you had fish in there). If theres no running filter in the tank then thats the reason that its taking so long, the bacteria will build up in the substrate (although not to the same extent) but there isn't any water flow through the substrate so it'll take ages to drop. If you can you're going to need to buy a cheap filter.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Adding something to remove the ammonia is totally defying the purpose for having it there in the first place. If there's no fish in there, just let the filter run and nature will take its course. What you want to do is provide enough 'food' for the bacteria to grow, so the high ammonia reading is 'feeding' these bacteria. What you want to keep an eye on is the nitrite reading, if this doesnt start to rise, your tank hasn't started cycling yet. When it does start to rise, the bacteria that use ammonia to produce nitrite are starting to colonise the filter and your on your way to a healthy tank. If anything you may be doing to much, maybe chlorine in your tap water is killing off new bacteria?

Ken

 

[Cian McLiam]

Sorry, I just read the later post about not having a running filter. In this case you are fighting a losing battle. In order for the bacteria to colonise in any useful numbers, they need well oxygenated, constantly moving water. Waiting for the gravel to provide enough bacteria could take months or years if at all.
You need to get the filter running before you can hope to keep fish Im afraid.

Ken