Fishless Cycle

[Davy]

Attempting my first fishless cycle.

As I understood it, add ammonia which will then be consumed by nitrites and in turn by nitrate.

Current parameters are

Ammonia 4.0
Nitrite5.0+
Nitrate 10
PH7.0

These readings are after about a week of cycling.

Any idea how this is going??

Davy

 

[rdd1952]

Hi Davy, You're close on the process. Actually certain nitrifying bacteria develop that "eat" ammonia and transform it into nitrite. Another group of bacteria form and do the same thing with nitrite, changing it into nitrate which you remove with a water change.

How much ammonia did you add to begin with and have you added any more since then? You have nitrites so ammonia is definitely being processed. You also have nitrates so it's possible that nitrite is being processed although it seems a little early for that. The nitrate could have come from the tap water. Have you tested your tap water to see if there are any ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in it.

I'd say you are on the right track, especially if you have added ammonia more than once. CHeck the link in my signature and it may help clear up any questions you have about the process.