Need help with cycling please

[Layci]

Where are you in the cycling method? How long since you added ammonia?

Without details of how much ammonia you added and when it's impossible to say. For example if you added a 3 ppm dose of ammonia yesterday you are close. But if the last time you added ammonia was a couple of weeks ago you still have a long way to go.

The last time I added ammonia was 11 days ago when I added enough to bring the level to 3.0. Hoping you have good news for me, lol.

 

[Essjay]

I would add another 3 ppm dose of ammonia and test for ammonia 24 hours later. If both are zero, you are cycled. But if one or both are not zero, you are not cycled - in this case, can you report what the levels are and we can see where you are in the cycle.

 

[Layci]

I would add another 3 ppm dose of ammonia and test for ammonia 24 hours later. If both are zero, you are cycled. But if one or both are not zero, you are not cycled - in this case, can you report what the levels are and we can see where you are in the cycle.

Thanks... I’m trying to figure out the conversation to ml... 3 ppm is basically about one drop? Or would you know how many ml it is?

 

[Essjay]

What is the ammonia you have? If it's a bottle of just ammonia and it's a 9.5% solution, you need to add 7.75 ml ammonia for 65 gallons to get 3 ppm.
If you have Dr Tim's ammonium chloride, you need to add something like 4 drops per gallon, or whatever it says on the bottle (they changed the amount recently).


It is a good idea to test for ammonia half an hour after adding it to check the level really is 3 ppm. The half an hour is to allow the ammonia to mix in thoroughly.

 

[Layci]

I would add another 3 ppm dose of ammonia and test for ammonia 24 hours later. If both are zero, you are cycled. But if one or both are not zero, you are not cycled - in this case, can you report what the levels are and we can see where you are in the cycle.

I also need to mention that I have not added anything to the tank at all. No plants, no ornaments... nothing. Only thing in there as far as decor is the gravel. Does that make a difference?

 

[663]

Thanks! I have not done a water change yet. Maybe that’s what is needed at this point.

Layci, what type ammonia are you using in this process? Something commercial perhaps?

 

[Essjay]

I also need to mention that I have not added anything to the tank at all. No plants, no ornaments... nothing. Only thing in there as far as decor is the gravel. Does that make a difference?

The only thing that could make a difference is live plants as they also take up ammonia but as you don't have any, it's a straight forward cycle.

 

[Layci]

The only thing that could make a difference is live plants as they also take up ammonia but as you don't have any, it's a straight forward cycle.

The ammonia I’ve been using is from Dollar Tree. I researched it before I bought it. Many people have used it. It’s plain old normal ammonia with no addives.

 

[Layci]

I’m going to add enough ammonia now to bring it to 3ppm, since my levels still not have changed at all.

 

[Layci]

Oh, I just checked and my ammonia now is down to .35. Should I just leave it alone for now with Nitrites still at zero?

 

[663]

Thanks for the info, Layci!. Hopefully I'll never have to buy any.

 

[Essjay]

When you added the ammonia, did you test half an hour afterwards? You two posts were just 11 minutes apart, so if you added the ammonia and tested straight away you could have tested a bit of water that the ammonia hadn't mixed into yet.
Ammonia won't drop from 3 to 0.35 ppm in a few minutes. In a cycled tank it can take several hours.

 

[Layci]

When you added the ammonia, did you test half an hour afterwards? You two posts were just 11 minutes apart, so if you added the ammonia and tested straight away you could have tested a bit of water that the ammonia hadn't mixed into yet.
Ammonia won't drop from 3 to 0.35 ppm in a few minutes. In a cycled tank it can take several hours.

Oh, sorry.... I had assumed my ammonia was still at .50 when I said I was about to add ammonia. I then thought I’d better check it first. I then discovered it had gone down to .35.
I’m about to check it again.

 

[Layci]

My ammonia is down from .35 last night to .20 to .25 tonight. Should this cycle be complete in the next few days?

 

[Utar]

Live plants are good to add during cycling you aquarium.