Ammonia/bacteria Question

[LionessN3cubs]

Im sure most are sick of my cycling questions but since I ordered the mature media online for my tank I want to make sure no one thinks something is wrong so that I'll kill that too.

Day 1 (april 7th) did 50% water change because ammonia was too high. Ammonia after change reads 4ppm. Temp is 84 degrees (heater)

Day 5 (april 12) Ammonia still 4ppm. Add gravel and 1/2 cup water from LFS (raised heater to 86 degrees and will leave it here throughout)

Day 8 (april 15) Ammonia appears a tad bit higher. Assume there was rotting food in with the gravel and water I added. Ordered mature media from internet and did 80% water change. Ammonia after change is 1ppm

Day 9 (april 16) ammonia still reading 1ppm 24 hours after change

My question is this. After all this time of having ammonia in the tank (total of 19 days but 7 of those days ammonia was too high) and I still dont have enough bacteria to process even the 1ppm of ammonia left in my tank since the 80% change yesterday....could something be wrong so that the mature filter media I ordered will die too? I use a dechlorinator and my temperature is right. Is there anything else that could prevent the nitrifying bacteria from growing?

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

Have you checked your pH? If pH falls below 6, it will inhinit the growth of the bacteria.

Also (assuming your pH is ok), i wouldn't worry too much if you're only on day 9 of cycling properly. It can often take this long for the ammonia oxidising bacteria to develop. You should see it fall soon (especially when you get your mature media).

BTT

 

[LionessN3cubs]

Hi,

Have you checked your pH? If pH falls below 6, it will inhinit the growth of the bacteria.

Also (assuming your pH is ok), i wouldn't worry too much if you're only on day 9 of cycling properly. It can often take this long for the ammonia oxidising bacteria to develop. You should see it fall soon (especially when you get your mature media).

BTT

Yeah I forgot to put the PH levels in the first post. They have never fallen below 7.5 and have been as high as 8 so that should be fine there. The dechlorinator I use also removes heavy metals so I dont think thats it either.

 

[backtotropical]

I think you just need patience then. You seem to be doing everything right.

Mature media will help a lot.