Cycling Question

[Charls]

I have been cycling (fishless) my 280l tank for nearly two weeks now. After my initial dose of ammonia dropped to zero I added some more to take it to back up to approx 5ppm, this took about a week. I then started to test for nitrItes. They started at 1,6 and gradually rose off the scale. Today I tested and they are at zero – hurray! However my ammonia levels have stuck at about 2ppm. PH in my tank is 7 – 7.5, temperature is approx 88 degrees. I have real and plastic plants in my tank.

Do I keep testing and waiting for my ammonia to drop and continue to test nitrItes? When ammonia does get back to zero, do I top it up to about 4ppm and wait for it & nitrItes to go back to zero within 10 – 12 hours? NitrAtes were 110 yesterday.

Any help/advice appreciated

Thanks

 

[kittycat12]

what i don't understand is why people add ammonia. doesn't ammonia turn into nitrite/nitrate?

 

[Charls]

I'm following the add and wait method, as per attached sticky

 

[pauly]

You add the ammonia to get the 'good bacteria' to generate so that once you have fish in there, it can handle the fish waste straight away.

 

[kittycat12]

oh. i see. when i cycled my tank a used a bunch of goldfish.

 

[Musho3210]

goldfish cycle (aka fish cycle) isnt the best way to go. Ammonia and nitrite is VERY poisonous to fish, and fish poop creates ammonia. So its stressful and (if they can feel pain) painful to the fish. If you've smelled ammonia, you would understand how bad it would be to be constantly breathing in ammonia which the fish do in a fish cycle. This is why people add ammonia without adding fish to get the bacteria all ready, then once the bacteria is all ready they stop adding ammonia and add fish. If done correctly the fish wont need to have ammonia poisoning.

 

[kittycat12]

goldfish cycle (aka fish cycle) isnt the best way to go. Ammonia and nitrite is VERY poisonous to fish, and fish poop creates ammonia. So its stressful and (if they can feel pain) painful to the fish. If you've smelled ammonia, you would understand how bad it would be to be constantly breathing in ammonia which the fish do in a fish cycle. This is why people add ammonia without adding fish to get the bacteria all ready, then once the bacteria is all ready they stop adding ammonia and add fish. If done correctly the fish wont need to have ammonia poisoning.

i yeh. i know that. well way after the fact. plus they were feeder fish. and i must say they are living a rather nice life outside in my pond. must say. they are rather fat. i also must say. there is more than one way to skin a cat. tho not all are the proper way.

and yes i know what ammonia is. try cleaning out a damn chicken farm with over 200 chickens.



btw. how would u feel if you were a goldfish and u were being fed the pirhanas?

 

[Musho3210]

id rather be fed to lions then inhale ammonia to my death lol, i HATE ammonia.... Try working with silicone....

 

[kittycat12]

id rather be fed to lions then inhale ammonia to my death lol, i HATE ammonia.... Try working with silicone....

yes im sure the goldfish would say the same thing. if they had a choice.