Fishless cycle not going anywhere

[jiffy]

Well, I have been running a fishless cycle on my 10 gallon for about a month and one week. Nitrites have barely risen (between 0 and .25) and my ammonia has yet to hit 0 ppm. I have a link to my site which has my log posted. Please check it out and give me any imput or reassurance. Thanks

Click here for my log

i tested yesterday but nothing had changed from my last entry on that log, still 4.0 pm ammonia and .25 ppm nitrites.

 

[gadazobe]

I don't think you're adding enough amonia. It should be added every other day until the end of the cycle even when nitrite appears.

One other thing - what's in the tank - any decorations, gravel, etc and have you got the filter running?

 

[heresmike]

That looks really strange that the ammonia is staying so high when you're adding such a little amount. I actually think the ammo levels are high enough, so in theory you shouldn't have to add more. But I'm puzzled why the ammo isn't dropping and the nitrites rising. If that were happening, you would then obviously need to add ammo more often.

Have you had your water tested at your lfs? My nitrAte test kit is faulty.. shows 0 when the lfs test shows 30. So it might be worth it to take a sample to the lfs to verify your test kits.

Also, what type of filter and filter media are you using? The bacteria needs the proper filter media on which to colonize.

 

[tstenback]

Hi Jiffy

I ran into this problem on my first fishless cycle and like gadazobe said you are not adding enough ammonia. You have to add it daily. The reading looks high enough so you say OK i dont need to add any more until it goes down ( and this may work for some) but this is what i did and i had the same result as you. Once i started adding the ammonia (same amount) daily then the nitrites took off. At that time i cut the ammonia in half but still added it every day. until the ammonia and nitrites were at zero. Hope That Helps and keep us posted

 

[modernhamlet]

Did you add any bacteria sources to the tank? Bio-Spira, establish filter media or gravel, plants?

 

[jiffy]

I have a Penguin Mini HOB filter and have not added any media because I was unable to get any (yes, even from the LFS). the reason I didnt add the same amount fo ammonia every day is becasue i figured this

5 ppm of ammonia on day 1. adding the same dose on day 2 will give you 10 ppm. same on day 3 is 15 ppm and so on until the ammonia is sky high. I mean, by day 2 it would be off the chart.

As mentioned by heresmike, there is ammonia in the tank for the bacteria to feed on, so in theory i shouldnt need to add any more. Then again tstenback, you had the same situation. How long did it take to cycle once you started adding every day?

 

[heresmike]

So, just to clarify, your filter has no media at all in it? If so, I think that's your problem. I think the nitrifying and nitrafying bacteria needs a place to colonize. Sure, some lands on the gravel and decorations, and a very small amount in the water. But most of it takes up residence on your filter media. I think you'll see plenty of nitrites once you add filter media.

 

[jiffy]

To reclarify - I meant to say that I didnt use any media from an established tank. I do have a filter cartridge in the HOB filter and it has been there since day one.

 

[heresmike]

To reclarify - I meant to say that I didnt use any media from an established tank. I do have a filter cartridge in the HOB filter and it has been there since day one.

I hoped that was the case, and glad to hear that it is! Thanks for clarifying.

I wish I could answer your question on why you aren't seeing nitrites.

Good luck though... hope it goes better soon!

 

[rain-]

The nitrifying bacteria don't reproduce fast, so you need lots of them in the beginning if you wish to get the tank cycled in a reasonable time.

Take some ordinary soil from a house plant pot. Put it in a mug and pour some water on it. Stirr it and then pour only the water (not the soil from the bottom of the mug) to the tank. There should be lots of nitrifying bacteria.

 

[kribs mate]

your not adding enough ammonia.

like you said you add the ammount it took to get 5ppm on day one but keep adding that daily untill your nitrite spikes then add half that ammount. dont be concerned what the readings are for ammonia as this is completly useless information. although after your nitrite spikes the ammonia is usually all tunred into nitrite petty quickly (less that an hour even)

you really need to add the ammonia everyday untill its over.

 

[tstenback]

I agree with kribs mate. Once i started adding the ammonia daily the nitrites started to spike within a couple of days and soon after the ammonia dropped to 0. So keep adding the ammonia and dont worry about the reading as there are no fish to be concerned about at this point in time. HTH Good luck

 

[jiffy]

Ok, I added another dose of ammonia tonight, hopefully things start to turn around fast. Im very anxious to get fish! Ill repost in a couple days and let everyone know how it is looking. Thanks for the help.

 

[jiffy]

Just a little update. My nitrites are finally on the rise and are nearing 5.0 ppm. unfortunately, my ammonia is still sky high, and has yet to hit 0 ppm.

I updated my log so you can see where I am at.

Click Here For My Log

Let me know what you all think. This has been going on for almost 2 months now

 

[Sky042]

Sounds like there wasn't a source of bacteria in the beginning. You should be on your way now but I remember reading in the article there is such a thing as adding too much ammonia such that it slows the growth of bacteria.