Second Week Of Cycling

[Zac5556]

Hi there everyone!

I started fishless cycling my new 29 gallon tank with janitorial strength ammonia from my local ace hardware store about 2 weeks ago. I did a test tonight and here are the results:

Ammonia 4 ppm
Nitrite 3 ppm
Nitrate 5 ppm

Is the ammonia too high? At what level should of nitrites start to bring the ammonia level down?

Thank you all in advance!

Zac

 

[KISSfn]

A fishless cycle can take months. If I were you I would buy an Active Sponge Filter from http/www.angelsplus.com/FiltersSponge.htm. Instant cycle. Add a few fish. Only in America!

 

[phoenix2081]

Read the fishless cycling guide in the beginner thread. A fishless cycle can take a month or longer.

I have just finished a fish in cycle and I would say only go for it if you have the time a day (as I did) to do big water changes and test twice daily.

If not from the fishless cycle guide they recommend it going to 4ppm on ammonia. Read the guide and it should explain it alot clearer than anything I could type.

Good luck

Mitch

 

[CezzaXV]

4ppm of ammonia is fine. Some people recommend that when you get into phase two of the cycle where you're waiting for the nitrite processing bacteria to grow to only do a half dose so you're not overloading them.

 

[Zac5556]

The ammonia reading could be a 5 it was hard for me to tell on the color chart, just don't want the cycle to stall because of high ammonia levels. Would a water change hurt with prime? Thank you all again

 

[snazy]

Do you use Prime as dechlorinator in a fishless cycle?
It will slow down your cycle so use a normal dechlorinator that doesn't detoxify ammonia and nitrites.

 

[HayzH]

Do you use Prime as dechlorinator in a fishless cycle?
It will slow down your cycle so use a normal dechlorinator that doesn't detoxify ammonia and nitrites.

i have prime recommended to me...does it slow the cycle then?

 

[snazy]

Do you use Prime as dechlorinator in a fishless cycle?
It will slow down your cycle so use a normal dechlorinator that doesn't detoxify ammonia and nitrites.

i have prime recommended to me...does it slow the cycle then?

Prime is good for when fish are in, but not in a fishless cycle, as locks the ammonia/nitrite and it can't be properly utilized by the nitrifying bacteria and thus slowing down your cycle, if not even stalling it if prime is added every day.
On another note, if you tap water does not contain chloramines or ammonia then why use such a dechlor that locks these in a cycled tank with fish?

 

[Zac5556]

I have amquel as well, should I use that?

Do you think the prime is what's keeping my ammonia so high?

 

[snazy]

I have amquel as well, should I use that?

Do you think the prime is what's keeping my ammonia so high?

I haven't used amquel, but it it says on the bottle that it removes ammonia/nitrites, then don't use it with your cycle.

I am not convinced the biological bacteria can use the bind ammonia/nitrite products like prime and amquel, but it certainly will make it very hard for the bacteria to use up and convert.
Bare in mind that the bacteria likes the non-toxic form of ammonia(NH3) and any other form it is converted to by these products makes the bacteria you won't to grow starving.

The test you are using probably detects both toxic(NH3) and non-toxic(NH4) ammonia, so you can't be certain which type you have and whether the bacteria has food.

What is your PH?

I would do a water change with a normal dechlorinator.
How often do you dose ammonia?

 

[Zac5556]

I have amquel as well, should I use that?

Do you think the prime is what's keeping my ammonia so high?

I haven't used amquel, but it it says on the bottle that it removes ammonia/nitrites, then don't use it with your cycle.

I am not convinced the biological bacteria can use the bind ammonia/nitrite products like prime and amquel, but it certainly will make it very hard for the bacteria to use up and convert.
Bare in mind that the bacteria likes the non-toxic form of ammonia(NH3) and any other form it is converted to by these products makes the bacteria you won't to grow starving.

The test you are using probably detects both toxic(NH3) and non-toxic(NH4) ammonia, so you can't be certain which type you have and whether the bacteria has food.

What is your PH?

I would do a water change with a normal dechlorinator.
How often do you dose ammonia?

What brand do you advise? My ph was at about 6.8

I put one drop of Ammonia 4 says ago when I saw the test showing around 2 ppm but haven't put any in since

 

[CezzaXV]

Prime is good for when fish are in, but not in a fishless cycle, as locks the ammonia/nitrite and it can't be properly utilized by the nitrifying bacteria and thus slowing down your cycle, if not even stalling it if prime is added every day.
On another note, if you tap water does not contain chloramines or ammonia then why use such a dechlor that locks these in a cycled tank with fish?

Because Prime is far, far more concentrated and so better value for money than most other dechlorinators.

 

[Zac5556]

What type of water conditioner is good for a fishless cycle?

 

[snazy]

If it is for fishless cycling, use one that doesn't remove ammonia and nitrites. I use Api Tap Safe.

 

[Zac5556]

Thanks snazy!

My ph was lower than 6.0 on my API kit so I added a tiny bit of baking soda, was that a good idea?