Homebase Ammonia Didn't Work For My Fishless Cycle

[waterdrop]

At that final stage, waiting for the nitrites to get processed faster, it can help to do large water changes, say on weekends, to help lower the overall nitrites and nitrates that keep building up. Of course, don't forget to condition the water and recharge your ammonia after you waterchange.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[s75658]

At that final stage, waiting for the nitrites to get processed faster, it can help to do large water changes, say on weekends, to help lower the overall nitrites and nitrates that keep building up. Of course, don't forget to condition the water and recharge your ammonia after you waterchange.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks waterdrop. I was begining to wonder if the high nitrite level would stop the nitrite bacteria from growing. I've also started to notice that about 4 minutes after adding the ammonnia the water goes cloudly and clears up a few hours later.

 

[waterdrop]

Well, normally milky cloudiness in a fishless cycling tank is the heterotrophs having a big bloom, but that shouldn't be brought on by ammonia being added. Those blooms usually happen but are more random.

Are you confident that your household ammonia is bubbles only like water and does not foam? Is it clear of dyes or fragrances? Hopefully you don't have an ammonia problem!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[s75658]

The ammonia I am using doesn't foam when shaken vigiorously.

The cloudlyness started after I had to go away for 2 days. Before I went I added twice as much ammonnia as I was worried the bacteria would stave if left for two days. Will adding too much ammonia cause this?

I going to do a big water change when I get home to reduce the nitrites and fingers crossed might solve my problem.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, when you are fishless cycling, unfortunately adding double the ammonia isn't a short-cut to getting you through that weekend away Once you enrich your "soup" up to 8ppm ammonia and above, you encourage an entirely different species of autotrophic bacteria, which grabs places on the media and thus competes for resources with the species that you want. Once you correct this and drop back down to the 4-5ppm or below, there will still possibly be a bit of a set-back as some of these "wrong" bacteria now need to die off can be replaced by the good bacteria.

Your water change is the right thing to do though,

~~waterdrop~~

 

[willsy]

Update:

After cleaning out the tank and rinsing everything, I've restarted my cycle with the Enzo ammonia and it's now been running for 3 weeks. I've finally had a drop in the ammonia and I am expecting a reading of 0 tonight at which point I can top it back up to 4.

I've made various changes in the past 3 days such as turning the heat down to 80, aeriating the tank, adding plants and adding Tetra Safe Start. Not sue if these actions kicked started the process.

Anyway, all looks good now!!

Cheers

Will.

 

[doresy]

Ok, so I have sussed it!

Pretty obvious really It's the lfs SPIKING the ammonia bottles with some sort of soap to stop us from very cheaply cycling our tanks

Oooow, suspects a law suit looming.......... only jokin!

 

[emilythestrange]

OH What a Coincedance!!!

I used That EXACT homebase solution to cycle my small tank. No problems

Now brought a new bottle recently... Of the SAME ammonia!! And my 100 litre tank has been a pain in the backside it has taken 2 months Doing the same thing it just wouldnt drop sometimes 5 ml would take 2 days to process!!, and even now i cannot add my full stock.

 

[rdd1952]

Another old thread thanks to Similar Topics. I so missed that feature while it was gone....NOT.