Ammonia not dropping

[SherriSixxx]

I have been trying to recycle my new tank, yesterday was the 9th day. However , the ammonia is still 4-5.Why hasn't it started to drop yet? However, nitrite has already gone to 50. I don't have any nitrate yet. Could it be because my filter is second hand? How do I know if the filter is working well, or should buy a new one??

 

[pcam86]

hmmm....well you could just do a water change and add some 'Cycle'

 

[SherriSixxx]

I did put some cycle thing with supposedly good bacteria in it a week ago, but it hasn't done anything...

I thought the ammonia was supposed to start dropping about 2-5 days after starting cycling....

 

[RedShark]

Hmm, from what i hear the 'cycle' stuff really doesn't work. In order for your Bacteria-in-a-bottle products to work i believe they have to be kept refridgerated otherwise the bacteria dies. Next time you go to local fish store which i assume are neither Petsmart nor Petco ask for the ones that are in their refridgerator. Those work. They will cycle your tank overnight

One of the brands is called Bio-Spira, i forget the other one though.

 

[UBigBobby]

Hmm, from what i hear the 'cycle' stuff really doesn't work. In order for your Bacteria-in-a-bottle products to work i believe they have to be kept refridgerated otherwise the bacteria dies. Next time you go to local fish store which i assume are neither Petsmart nor Petco ask for the ones that are in their refridgerator. Those work. They will cycle your tank overnight

One of the brands is called Bio-Spira, i forget the other one though.

[snapback]897710[/snapback]​

Opinions vary on cycle. I used it on my 40G tall and it finished cycling in 2 weeks flat with 3 dojo loaches in it. So some say it works others that it doesn't. One this is for sure, and that is that Bio-Spira works BETTER. Definately get some IMO.

 

[Clairel]

Hi

Ive just added some Cycle and Prime into my tank, as i have ammonia, i thought it was instant acting? I read here it can take 2 days? is that right? If so, im afraid im going to end up with some more dead fish, and ive just lost a Mollie and a Silver Shark..... I also did a 25% water change....I hope this helps them....The water test kit ive been using is apparantly not accurate Tetratest 5 in 1...the little sticks, so i will be getting myself a test tube kit today..

Claire xx

 

[rdd1952]

Hmm, from what i hear the 'cycle' stuff really doesn't work. In order for your Bacteria-in-a-bottle products to work i believe they have to be kept refridgerated otherwise the bacteria dies. Next time you go to local fish store which i assume are neither Petsmart nor Petco ask for the ones that are in their refridgerator. Those work. They will cycle your tank overnight

One of the brands is called Bio-Spira, i forget the other one though.

[snapback]897710[/snapback]​

Opinions vary on cycle. I used it on my 40G tall and it finished cycling in 2 weeks flat with 3 dojo loaches in it. So some say it works others that it doesn't. One this is for sure, and that is that Bio-Spira works BETTER. Definately get some IMO.

[snapback]897724[/snapback]​

I would say the Cycle didnt help you as 2 weeks would be close to a decend cycling time for 3 loaches. I have tried cycle and found it to be of no help.

Hi

Ive just added some Cycle and Prime into my tank, as i have ammonia, i thought it was instant acting? I read here it can take 2 days? is that right? If so, im afraid im going to end up with some more dead fish, and ive just lost a Mollie and a Silver Shark..... I also did a 25% water change....I hope this helps them....The water test kit ive been using is apparantly not accurate Tetratest 5 in 1...the little sticks, so i will be getting myself a test tube kit today..

Claire xx

[snapback]897762[/snapback]​

Cycle and Prime definitely aren't instant. You will be looking at 2 to 3 weeks minimum to cycle a tank with fish. It really depends on how many you have. Bio-Spira is supposed to be as close to instant as you can get but I haven't tried it so I can't personally say. If you have ammonia, do daily water changes to keep the level under .5 (preferably under .25). You also want the nitrite to be under .5 too.

 

[sinistral]

I have been trying to recycle my new tank, yesterday was the 9th day. However , the ammonia is still 4-5.Why hasn't it started to drop yet? However, nitrite has already gone to 50. I don't have any nitrate yet. Could it be because my filter is second hand? How do I know if the filter is working well, or should buy a new one??

[snapback]897451[/snapback]​

Are you doing a fishless cycle or a cycle with fish? If you are doing fishless, you'll have to reduce the amount of ammonia you're adding. If you're doing a cycle with fish (and if the fish are still alive), you'd do well to do as pccam suggested and do an immediate water change to bring levels down.

What kind of filter do you have? As long as you are getting good water movement through it, it's probably working fine.

In any event, it would be helpful to know these details about your cycling method (and any other information you think might be relevant). HTH~

 

[Clairel]

Hi

I just wanted to say the Prime(red) and Cycle i have been putting in over the last 2 days has worked !!! My ammonia is now 0, Nitrates 0, and PH 7.... I am very happy with this result !!

I will keep checking it over the next few days, but i did also do a 25% water change, so i think this has helped it all along....

My fish seem alot happier now

Claire x

 

[laurasmithuk]

tetra bactozym is helpful to add to help cycle a tank

 

[rdd1952]

Hi

I just wanted to say the Prime(red) and Cycle i have been putting in over the last 2 days has worked !!! My ammonia is now 0, Nitrates 0, and PH 7.... I am very happy with this result !!

I will keep checking it over the next few days, but i did also do a 25% water change, so i think this has helped it all along....

My fish seem alot happier now

Claire x

[snapback]898762[/snapback]​

If you have no nitrates, I'd say your tanks hasn't or isn't cycling. Nitrate is the end result of the nitrogen cycle. If your ammonia has been processed into nitrite (what is your nitrite reading) and then into nitrate, you would have nitrate unless your tank is heavily planted. If you have no ammonia and no nitrate, you probably have very high nitrite.

 

[Clairel]

i tested my Nitrate earlier, i think it was 25

I bought a master kit today, and unfortunately it doesnt test nitrate, only nitrite, ph, ammonia etc..etc...

So i did the Nitrate with a tetra test stick, which i find rubbish anyway, so im going to have to buy the single Nitrate kit

Claire x

 

[Mickslack]

i tested my Nitrate earlier, i think it was 25

I bought a master kit today, and unfortunately it doesnt test nitrate, only nitrite, ph, ammonia etc..etc...

So i did the Nitrate with a tetra test stick, which i find rubbish anyway, so im going to have to buy the single Nitrate kit

Claire x

[snapback]898954[/snapback]​

you can buy a nitrite test cheaply it is worth buying just to see were you are in the cycle!

 

[Clairel]

Thanx...

That is no1 priorty for me tmrw....

Claire x