Frustrating Cycling

[Mr-Xoc]

This whole fishless cycle lark hasnt been going that well for me

I have been doing the cycle for about 4 weeks now (add and wait version). My tank contains some sand (play sand), a few large bits of slate, bogwood and live plants. The temp is around 28 and the PH has remained high (above 7) throughout. The cycle was going fine for the first 2 and a half weeks. I added the Ammonia to bring the level up to 5ppm and left it to do its stuff, after about a week the ammonia was droping back to zero so I kept topping it up. About a week and a half ago my tank stopped processing the ammonia, im assuming for some unknown reason the cycle stalled and the bacteria died. I read on here that you could restart a stalled cycle by doing around a 30% water change, so I did that and my ammonia started processing again. A few days ago I noticed the nitrates were starting to rise and the nitrites were dropping, so I thought the cycle was comming to an end but yesterday the bacteria stopped processing the Ammonia again and my nitrites are almost at zero

Im assuming that if I dont get the ammonia bacteria started again soon, there wont be any nitrites and the other bacteria will die off, leaving me right back at square one. Im going to do another 30% water change today and hope the Ammonia bacteria start up soon enough to stop the other lot dieing off, but im not holding out much hope

Anyway unless anyone can think of any miraculous suggestions, im just going name my bit of bogwood as I think it will be a while before any fish get near my tank

 

[OrganizedChaos69]

Normally slate contains lots of Limestone right? Or is this a different version? Lots of limestone can cause the water to be very alkaline as the minerals leach into the water. Maybe these minerals are also effecting the bacterial growth? A possibility. How are you adding ammonia?

 

[rdd1952]

Slate should be fine. You may be thinking of shale. I'm not certain but think it may contain limestone. I have several pieces of slate in my tanks and they don't have any effect on the pH.

I'm not certain why you are having problems. Have you done anything to the tank while in the process such as adding plants, chemicals, topping off water, etc.? I suggest doing a large water change, 50 to 75 percent to shake things up a little. Bring the ammonia back up to 4 or 5 and see what happens.

 

[OrganizedChaos69]

Your right slate is constantly used in breeding angelfish, which I actually do. I don't know how I mixed the two up. I also don't see a reason why your having problems. It may be from the artificial ammonia that you've been adding. I'm not sure what it is your adding. Normally I just add food which will decay itself into ammonia.

 

[rdd1952]

Most of us use "pure" ammonia for cycling. It is't really pure ammonia as I think that is actually a gas but the ammonia you can buy that has no cleaners in it. Basically, just ammonia and water. Fish flakes work although it is hard to regulate the ammount you are adding (don't really know how high you're raising the ammonia) and it does create a messy tank with flakes laying around everywhere.

 

[Mr-Xoc]

I kind of guessed that no one would be able to give me an instant answer, I just wanted to vent

The Ammonia is normal household ammonia that just contains ammonia/water (no other chemicals in it). Anyway im going do do a large water change now and hope for the best

Thanks