Fishless Cycling

[mcguina]

I have just started a fishless cycle on Friday and my ammonia level is currently off the scale on my API test kit, my nitrite at 1.0. Is this normal and if not what should I do to make it right?

Thanks

 

[fatheadminnow]

I have just started a fishless cycle on Friday and my ammonia level is currently off the scale on my API test kit, my nitrite at 1.0. Is this normal and if not what should I do to make it right?

Thanks

If you are getting ammonia that is off the charts...(over 8 ppm), that is not good as it may stall the cycle. How much ammonia did you add when you started your cycle?

I would do a water change to bring it down to about 5 ppm, and continue form there.

I would also check if you have ammonia in you tap water. If you do then that might be enough to push your results off the charts.

-FHM

 

[fishman3]

I have just started a fishless cycle on Friday and my ammonia level is currently off the scale on my API test kit, my nitrite at 1.0. Is this normal and if not what should I do to make it right?

Thanks

If you are getting ammonia that is off the charts...(over 8 ppm), that is not good as it may stall the cycle. How much ammonia did you add when you started your cycle?

I would do a water change to bring to down to about 5 ppm.

-FHM

wouldnt harm to make sure that the test kit is still in date!!! the last 4 numbers printed on the bottle are mmyy for example 0507 is april 2007. generally these test kits are good for between 2 and 3 years!

hope this helps!

Phil

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with both of the above. Once you get up around 8ppm you're selecting for the wrong bacteria.

~~waterdrop~~