How Long Is A Piece Of String?

[Xraymark]

The story so far

Day 29

Ammonia 4ppm
Nitrite 0
Ph 8
Temp 28C

Added some gravel and White cotton filter from another tank 5 days ago. Still no movement. Is there anything else I should be doing?

Am I going for a record in cycling or what. 

 

[CezzaXV]

I'm convinced there's something wrong, but I really can't see what.

Is your water dechlorinated? Have you got your filter running 24/7? You've got media in there, right? What kind of ammonia did you use?

Sorry if it seems like stupid questions, but often the things you miss are the most obvious in hindsight.

 

[Xraymark]

I used tetra aqua safe to dechlorinate the water. 5mls per 10 litres

I used jeyes ammonia and added 7.5mls to 150 litres of water(Rio 180).

Filter 24/7.

On a previous post someone had mentioned that it had taken 30 days before ammonia started to drop in his tank. At what stage do I start again? Maybe do a large water change and use prime for the water.

 

[Tizer]

Twice its length from the center to one end....

 

[the_lock_man]

Good grief, that's a heck of a time.

Can you try to beg some mature filter media from one of the display tanks of your LFS? Or would any of our Irish members have any they could donate to you? That would help - keep the media wet at all times, and pop it in the filter at the inlet end, if possible.

 

[Mowbz]

Twice its length from the center to one end....

I was soo tempted, but decided since it would do nothing for the OP, i didnt bother! Nice to see someone threw it out there!

 

[Xraymark]

Twice its length from the center to one end....

I was soo tempted, but decided since it would do nothing for the OP, i didnt bother! Nice to see someone threw it out there!

I think I'm pitching to the wrong crowd

 

[Comacchio]

It was my tank that took horrendously long for 0 ammonia. Something like 35 days. About 15 days later my tank was processing 5ppm ammonia through to nitrate in 12 hours - Dont even know what happened there! My tank is now stocked

 

[StandbySetting]

Twice its length from the center to one end....

I was soo tempted, but decided since it would do nothing for the OP, i didnt bother! Nice to see someone threw it out there!

The length of a piece of string is Infinite

 

[Xraymark]

It was my tank that took horrendously long for 0 ammonia. Something like 35 days. About 15 days later my tank was processing 5ppm ammonia through to nitrate in 12 hours - Dont even know what happened there! My tank is now stocked

That's good to hear. I'll keep the course for another 10 days and re-evaluate.

At least 4 feet wasn't mentioned. Oh #41####.

 

[TropicalJuwel]

I started cycling my new tank on 29th aug with ammonia for a week until it reached levels that were in the bottle, went on holiday and came home on 19th sept and levels were still at roughly 6, pretty much stayed there until end of sept but ammonia then fell straight down a slight build up of nitrite then stabalised at double zero for a week and finally about 8th of oct was ready to start transfering fish over, since then i have completely stocked from my old tank and added some more and every test levels havent moved 1 bit. I know it takes a while but give it time, your filter will be very strong once ready and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Fishball7]

Test your tap water for ammonia. Some tap waters have a relatively high concentrate of ammonia.

 

[Xraymark]

My tap water is negative for ammonia. Ammonia constant 4ppm in tank. just wait and see for the mo.

 

[Xraymark]

Day 35 no change from first post.

Any suggestions. ?start over again.

Because I was uncertain if there was something in the tank killing my fish I washed the filter sponges super clean with tap water only. Could this be stopping the bacteria forming?

 

[CezzaXV]

The tap water will have killed any bacteria that were already existing on the sponge, but it shouldn't stop any new bacteria forming.

You know, if I was in your position, I'd be tempted by now to do a massive water change(s) to get rid of the ammonia, then start stocking and fish-in cycle.

You have got media in your filter, right? (again, sorry if it seems a stupid question but I really can't see where you're going wrong). You're not colour blind, are you?