Very Discouraged This Morning

[itsmedeanna64]

Good Saturday Morning! Well, I am getting very upset at how my fishless cycling is going. This week on day 12 my readings were: Amm-2.0, nitrates-0, nitrites-0, ph-6.6. I added ammonia (later that day) to get amm level up, increased water temp.

Day 13 readings were: Amm- 4.0, Nitrates-0, Nitrites-0, ph-6.6

TODAY, day 14, readings this morning are: Amm-4.0, Nitrates-0, Nitrites-0, ph-7.6

The baby snails and my 2 live plants are not suffering any. In fact one is really growing, 29 gal, my water temp is 85 degrees, hood light on 15 hrs a day, bubble wall going, water is crystal clear.

If this is not going well, should I just drain it and start over I was thinking this morning, my brother has a 20 gal. He was so impatient that he wouldn't do the cycling and let his tank sit 4 days and got fish, has lost 2 I think. Heck, his tank is doing better than mine and I am trying to do it right!!

I need some incouragement, advice or something this morning because right now I'm feeling pretty put out!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Well, if you then manage to add the fish without losing a single one, then your tank will be doing better than his. I fishlessly cycled 2 tanks and lost not a fish in the process; it felt good.
Don't know why your cycle has stalled though; how much ammonia do you add and how often? It may be that you could get away with adding less.

 

[dylanf]

Is your testing kit accurate. Maby take a water sample to the LFS and get them to test it.

 

[blue_ram]

Is your testing kit accurate. Maby take a water sample to the LFS and get them to test it.

I agree.

 

[Torrean]

Have you considered seeding your tank with media from your brothers? Bewary of disease though.

 

[dgwebster]

Though I'd just hi-jack this one as it is about my own fishless cycle.

this is day 8. the starting readings were:

Temp: 27 deg C
PH 8.8
Ammonia 6.0 (ish)
Othes 0 - obviously

It has remained at this all week. However, today, I did a block test (PH, Ammonia and Nitrite) as i've been doing ammonia every day only and ph every 2 days.

Suddenly, today:


Temp: 27 deg C
PH 7.2
Ammonia 6.0 (ish)
others still zero.

This is a sudden (large) drop inthe PH level, could it be indicative that the ammonia could take that sudden dive that the fishless cycle guides talk about?

"hopefull" dave

 

[black angel]

It might be another week or so before you see any change. Which filter are you using?

 

[kris-b-]

Mine fishless cycle has taken 3 and a half weeks to complete but at least I know when I add fish they won't be exposed to ammonia or nitrites at high levels. I am now adding ammonia daily as I'm not adding my fish until later this week and my levels are back to 0 after 12 hours.

I didn't see a drop in ammonia until about day 10 of my cycle.

 

[dgwebster]

Its a Fluval 2 (not 2 Plus). It includes centre chambers for charcoal, which is currently missing from it.

It was just surprising to see the drop in PH level after a little over 7 days, I was expecting changes in 10-14.

My fish definately wont go in untill after Christmas (when I can afford them from next months budget) or possibly the new year, so the plan was similar, to keep stocking it with ammonia myself every day once it establishes and neutralises it very quickly. It gives it a good 3-5 weeks to cycle though. Ironically, the same for beginnings with a new fish, but still, this method is kinder in my opinion.

 

[peediepixie]

Hi there, when I cycled my tank it took just over 4 weeks. Patience is the name of the game! It will happen, it just takes time and you are definately doing it the right way by doing a fishless cycle. good for you.

 

[rdd1952]

Deanna, I am at a loss as to why you haven't seen any change in the nitrite. I think you have already answered this on another thread but have you been using dechlorinator and are you using any other chemicals such as Ammo-Loc? Some products say they "neutralize" ammonia which breaks it into a form that prohibits bacteria growth. If you could get some media from your brothers tank, it would definitely help. Even if it's just 6 or 8 pieces of carbon from the filter.

As for testing pH, there's really no need to waste your tests on that (if your using liquid). There aren't any fish so pH swings aren't and pH swings in a cycling tank are normal. I never test anything but ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.