RowdyBub50
New Member
sorry meant trite.
Cycling for new 10 gallon tank is stuck?
- Thread starter H0pefulDad
- Start date
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No. Nowadays we add 3 ppm ammonia to start the cycle, then wait until certain targets have been reached before adding more ammonia. The cycling method on here was written so that if followed properly nitrite can never get high enough to stall the cycle.
www.fishforums.net
It iused to be thought that 5 ppm ammonia should be used and that ammonia should be added every time it dropped to zero. But studies have shown that a sensibly stocked tank makes less than 3 ppm ammonia per day and that the bacteria don't starve to death in 24 hours as used to be thought. TwoTankAmin took this research and wrote the method on here so that stalled cycles no longer happen.
Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!
Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...
www.fishforums.net
It iused to be thought that 5 ppm ammonia should be used and that ammonia should be added every time it dropped to zero. But studies have shown that a sensibly stocked tank makes less than 3 ppm ammonia per day and that the bacteria don't starve to death in 24 hours as used to be thought. TwoTankAmin took this research and wrote the method on here so that stalled cycles no longer happen.
H0pefulDad
Fish Fanatic
I definitely want a lot of plants in there to make it especially comfortable for my betta. I've already had two fake plants in there for a while, was planning on getting real ones once the tank cycled but I put one anubias nana in there now, just to see what happens.
I did a small water change and now the ammonia is down to 1 ppm, so I might put some more in later.
H0pefulDad
Fish Fanatic
The ammonia is down to 1 ppm as of today, so I might wait and see how that spans out before trying to add any more. But even if I do, I don't think there's much risk of nitrite levels getting that high, since they've never gone above 0.25 ppm since I first detected them.
Now that you mentioned it, I haven't tested pH in a while. Last I checked it was a bit high actually, but it might have changed somehow, so I'll test it tomorrow and see if it got any lower, thanks!
H0pefulDad
Fish Fanatic
No. Nowadays we add 3 ppm ammonia to start the cycle, then wait until certain targets have been reached before adding more ammonia. The cycling method on here was written so that if followed properly nitrite can never get high enough to stall the cycle.
Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!
Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...
It iused to be thought that 5 ppm ammonia should be used and that ammonia should be added every time it dropped to zero. But studies have shown that a sensibly stocked tank makes less than 3 ppm ammonia per day and that the bacteria don't starve to death in 24 hours as used to be thought. TwoTankAmin took this research and wrote the method on here so that stalled cycles no longer happen.
I just read this article and I'll admit, I'm a bit concerned now because it mentions KH, and my test kit doesn't include one for KH. Guess I'll have to find one that does.
I feel like if I could just get a different reading for the nitrites then I could get some confidence back. Even if they dropped to 0 it would at least mean something is happening.
Look on your water provider's website for alkalinity if they give that. Alkalinity is what water providers call KH. If they don't give it, look for hardness. GH and KH are usually high or low together. Unless you have very soft water your KH should be high enough.
RowdyBub50
New Member
No. Nowadays we add 3 ppm ammonia to start the cycle, then wait until certain targets have been reached before adding more ammonia. The cycling method on here was written so that if followed properly nitrite can never get high enough to stall the cycle.
Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!
Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...
It iused to be thought that 5 ppm ammonia should be used and that ammonia should be added every time it dropped to zero. But studies have shown that a sensibly stocked tank makes less than 3 ppm ammonia per day and that the bacteria don't starve to death in 24 hours as used to be thought. TwoTankAmin took this research and wrote the method on here so that stalled cycles no longer happen.
Ahh thank you.
H0pefulDad
Fish Fanatic
Okay, I tested the pH of my tank water and it's around 7.6 or so, so that's not the problem. Ammonia and nitrites are, once again unchanged, so I added a little more ammonia.
Honestly, I don't know how all of the bottled bacteria I have could be dead, but if any of it worked I figured I would've seen something by now. The only option I'm seeing here is to either get another bottle from a store and try adding it again, or taking the risky route of finding someone near me with a cycled tank and asking them for a filter cartridge or something to seed my tank with. It's been more than three weeks now and I just don't know what I'm doing wrong.
Honestly, I don't know how all of the bottled bacteria I have could be dead, but if any of it worked I figured I would've seen something by now. The only option I'm seeing here is to either get another bottle from a store and try adding it again, or taking the risky route of finding someone near me with a cycled tank and asking them for a filter cartridge or something to seed my tank with. It's been more than three weeks now and I just don't know what I'm doing wrong.
H0pefulDad
Fish Fanatic
I got the Tetra Safe Start! I'm gonna add it to my tank and see what happens. Hopefully the bacteria in here are alive and will actually help my tank cycle. I also got a java fern, so that on top of my anubias should hopefully help speed things along.
Everyone here has been so helpful with their advice so far, thank you all. I know I should be trying to be patient with this process, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. I saw bettas in tiny plastic containers in the pet store and I barely resisted the urge to just take one home. I need my tank to become safe quick so I can save one of those poor babies.
Everyone here has been so helpful with their advice so far, thank you all. I know I should be trying to be patient with this process, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. I saw bettas in tiny plastic containers in the pet store and I barely resisted the urge to just take one home. I need my tank to become safe quick so I can save one of those poor babies.
H0pefulDad
Fish Fanatic
Hey, when you add the bacteria is it supposed to look like a little cloud of sorts in the tank water for a minute? 'Cause I thought that was a good sign, but it's been two days since I added it and the ammonia doesn't seem to have gone down. The nitrites might have gone up a tiny bit though, so is it just gonna take longer? Should I wait a few days or a week before testing again?
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