Ammonia Off The Chart

[boxcar]

i'm doing a fishless cycle but my ammonia levels have been 8+ ppm for over a week now. i fear my cycle has stalled so i'm going to do a large water change but my question is,should i add more ammonia after i do the water change or just let my tank process whats already in it

 

[JenCliBee]

Do a test after the water change, if the ammonia is at a reasonable level then just let it process whats remaining, if it's lower than you really want just add a little more.

 

[fluttermoth]

You don't want the ammonia in a cycling tank to go over 5ppm.

If you do let it get that high, you'll end up cultivating the 'wrong' families of bacteria.

 

[Essjay]

If the ammonia level is above 5ppm there is the danger that the wrong species of bacteria will grow. Check the level after the water change (wait until the new water has mixed thoroughly) and if it's still over 5ppm do another one. Once you get the reading down to somehwere below 5ppm, only add the amount of ammonia needed to keep the ammonia level at or below 5.
Wit a fishless cycle, you should only be adding ammonia once the reading drops to zero, and the amount you add should only be enough to get the level back to 5.


Edit - Fluttermoth beat me to it!

 

[boxcar]

thanks guys
ammonia down to 4ppm
nitrite down to 0ppm
nitrate 0ppm