Currently Cycling The Tank..

[Shovelman]

Well even though my test kit is on its way, i still decided to start up my tank with some pure ammonia. Its been 2 weeks and on day one i added 12.5 ml of ammonia to my 65 gallon tank let it sit for 5-6 days and added another 12ml. after 8-9 days after the last dose i took a trip to my lfs where they do liquid testing for free and according to their kit my Nitrates are extremely high.. so obviously somethings breaking down that ammonia

so one sec... is it Ammonia> Nitrate> Nitrite? Or Ammonia> Nitrite> Nitrate> ? how much longer am i probably looking at? 2 weeks i guess?

 

[Shovelman]

anyone?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate.

You haven't really given much information so it would be impossible to guess how much longer is left. You really need to invest in a liquid test kit of your own. You can't keep fish without one. It would be like getting a cat without a litter box. You should be dosing your tank with ammonia to raise it to about 4-5ppm each time the ammonia hits zero. If you don't know when that happens, then you are blindly dosing. Your ammonia could be sky high encouraging the wrong bacteria, or it could be zero for days before you dose it. You don't know and it will have negative impact on your cycle.



Post some more information and you might get an estimate, but there are so many variables at work, it is hard to beg exactly.

 

[Mikaila31]

aren't you planting it? You could just skip the cycle then... Or clone it if you have another tank. If not I would say probably 2 weeks at least.

 

[Shovelman]

aren't you planting it? You could just skip the cycle then... Or clone it if you have another tank. If not I would say probably 2 weeks at least.

Mik! Yeah but my light is coming in the mail and i need to save up money for the big plant buying escapade.... PS do you have the URL for tropical fish forum chat? I lost it and cant get on to talk anymore....

eaglesaquarium- Thanks and yes i know but i do have it on somewhat of a schedule, i used the calculator on the cycling pin to calculate how much ammonia would get it up to 5ppm and now I'm doing half the amount about every 2-3 days to keep what i have going alive. As to the test kit i ordered one online but they canceled the order for whatever reason (got my money back) So im waiting until this weekend to go and pick one up from my lfs. Any suggestions on brand? Ive only seen API at my LFS....

 

[Shovelman]

aren't you planting it? You could just skip the cycle then... Or clone it if you have another tank. If not I would say probably 2 weeks at least.

Mik! Yeah but my light is coming in the mail and i need to save up money for the big plant buying escapade.... PS do you have the URL for tropical fish forum chat? I lost it and cant get on to talk anymore....

eaglesaquarium- Thanks and yes i know but i do have it on somewhat of a schedule, i used the calculator on the cycling pin to calculate how much ammonia would get it up to 5ppm and now I'm doing half the amount about every 2-3 days to keep what i have going alive. As to the test kit i ordered one online but they canceled the order for whatever reason (got my money back) So im waiting until this weekend to go and pick one up from my lfs. Any suggestions on brand? Ive only seen API at my LFS....