Fishless cycling question

[Def]

Hey all,

Quick question. First time I've done a fishless cycle, I wanted to get a quarantine tank up and running quickly before I get my plec. I seeded it with some mature filter media and gravel, chucked a little ammonia in the tank, added some cycle and waited.

Now I've got wierd readings. For some reason my ammonia is staying high, even though nitrites are increasing. Why am I not seeing a corresponding drop in ammonia?

(ammonia is about 4ppm, nitrite about 1ppm, nitrate 0).


Cheers!

 

[canarsie11]

If you had mature filter media, why did you use cycle?

 

[luxum]

It's normal. Your nitrites will get a lot higher and pretty soon the ammonia levels will drop.

 

[Def]

Thanks luxum. Nitrites up to about 4 now, nitrates appearing, and ammonia is staying firm at 4. Hrm. Hope it goes down soon, wanted to get my plec this weekend. Guess not.

canarsie, I always use Cycle, for everything. IMO nothing wrong with giving a helping hand, especially when I was only using a small amount of mature filter foam (think half a Fluval 2+ sponge) and a handful of gravel. I wanted to get the tank cycled asap.

 

[Plan-B]

I cycled my 90 gallon tank using the same method of ammonia and a small amount of seeded media. I took 2 weeks for ammonia to start to drop and 3 for the nitrites. After a month I had readings that I deemed acceptable. One thing I’ve read (and I’m sure you have too) is to cut your daily ammonia dosage in half once nitrites start to form. I really don’t think the ammonia vs. fish cycling route is any faster. It just makes sense to me because you’re not stressing any fish during your cycle. As for seeding I think it will increase your cycle time but only in relation to the amount of seeded material used. If you set up a tank and all the gravel and filter media was established I bet it would be good to go in a couple days.

 

[Def]

Well to follow up, ammonia dropped from about 3 to 0 pretty much overnight, then nitrites shot through the roof. I've redoses some ammonia to put it back up to about 4, just waiting for nitrites to sort themselves out now (nitrates are appearing). If it helps anyone it's taken me about 5 days to get to this point, although I seeded with mature media and gravel, and used Cycle. If things continue I assume I'll be cycled in a day or 2.

ANd I just know by the time this new tank is ready, my shop will have sold out of golden nuggets...