Cycling Going Sloooooooooow

[doubledee]

If you have only added the ammonia once and it has just gotten to zero, you're nitrite would not be very high and you shouldn't have any nitrate unless it's in your tap water. You said you tested the water yesterday and had no ammonia and then today it was the same. Did you add more ammonia? If not, you are losing what bacteria you have developed because they don't have a food source. Before the cycle finishes, you will have to add ammonia for quite a bit longer. The nitrite should spike off the chart and then the nitrates should start to steadily climb. It generally takes about twice as long for the nitrite to spike and return to zero as it did for the ammonia to go to zero the first time (about 10 days in your case).

I added some ammonia and it dropped again. There is no nitrAtes in my tap water AFAIK (see below re. dodgy test results).

It sounds like you may be getting variable nitrate test results. If you use an API or similar test using test solutions (not test strips) this link may be helpful.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=180830&hl=

Good luck on the cycle getting completed!

Thanks for that. It looks like that's what the problem was. Sometimes (on both nitrAte test bottles not just #2) the liquid doesn't come out very easily. I will ensure that the bottle is tapped prior to use as the 30 second shake obviously doesn't do the job.

 

[doubledee]

Yup my API nitrAte test kit is as good as useless.

I've tested the water 3 times this evening. I've had readings of 0 and 0.5 and nothing resembling the higher nitrAte levels I experienced on the last two afternoons. I've tapped the bottles, shaken them etc. for a couple of minutes to no avail. I think I will contact API and take the kit back to the LFS. My bottles were manufactured in May'06 (#1) and Aug'06(#2).

 

[rdd1952]

I rarely test for nitrate unless I'm cycling (actually since my tanks hae been running for 2 years, I rarely test anything) but have heard that the kits were good for about a year only. So you are right on the borderline. I think the other site that was mentioned said they didn't expire, just clump up so to speak. Mine are most likely useless too as they are older than that.

 

[doubledee]

Well it looks like the autofeeder idea didn't work. I filled up the 14 slots with flake and I've just found out that it worked for 4 days then stopped. Absolutely useless. Oh well, I'll have to start again when I get back. Fishless cycling is frustrating!!!!!!

 

[doubledee]

Well I got home and the nitrite has gone so at some point the tank was cycled. The tank was covered in algae, there was thick brown algae going from the surface all the way down to the wood, it was like thick cobwebs. I cleaned it all up, did a large water change and then I added a small amount of ammonia last night but it's still there 12 hours later, so it looks like I'm back to square one. The autofeeder was showing the correct time but it looks like it simply wasn't dropping the food in, maybe it got clogged. I will rig it up again using a smaller amount of food and monitor it. Unfortunately I'm only home for a couple of days then away again. As the tank is planted, I'm thinking of just adding a couple of fish at a time and doing a silent cycle. I will see what happens.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Well I got home and the nitrite has gone so at some point the tank was cycled. The tank was covered in algae, there was thick brown algae going from the surface all the way down to the wood, it was like thick cobwebs. I cleaned it all up, did a large water change and then I added a small amount of ammonia last night but it's still there 12 hours later, so it looks like I'm back to square one. The autofeeder was showing the correct time but it looks like it simply wasn't dropping the food in, maybe it got clogged. I will rig it up again using a smaller amount of food and monitor it. Unfortunately I'm only home for a couple of days then away again. As the tank is planted, I'm thinking of just adding a couple of fish at a time and doing a silent cycle. I will see what happens.

if it was planted enough to do an effective silent cycle then the ammonia would be dissapearing already so don't think that you'll be doing that. if you want to give up on fishless cycling and do a cycle with fish that's your call, you'll need to do daily water changes of 20% so best to start it when you know you'll be around every day for the next month or so.

 

[doubledee]

I don't want to "give up" on a fishless cycle or cycle with fish. If it's not cycled, when I return, I will plant some more after a week or so add fish a couple at a time. I suppose that could be considered as cycling with fish but I've looked into the silent cycle and I think it's the way to go at the moment. I added 4ppm last night of ammonia which is equivalent to a full (if not more than) bioload. I don't intend to add all the fish at once, just a couple at a time, which I'm sure both the filter and the plants would be able to deal with. I'll see how it goes.

 

[doubledee]

I reloaded the autofeeder the last time and also put 6ppm of ammonia in the tank. This time the autofeeder dropped the whole daily amount in the tank, I can only think it got clogged the last time. It also looks like my light timer had failed which was what caused the brown algae and also the some of the plants died. Funnily enough, the more difficult varieties of plants seem to be growing well in my low tech, low lighting tank!

I got back the other day and it appears everything is going well and quicker than last time. Nitrites had appeared in less than 7 days. I have the temperature a little higher this time as it appears the plants are growing ok with no ill effects.

My brother is going to give a sponge filter to put in my external tomorrow. His tank has been running for years. It's not fully stocked, it has about 10 barbs in a species tank. To this end, how long will the filter take to transfer the bacteria to my filter media and also cope with the daily ammonia bioload. I ain't in any hurry this time but am looking at putting fish in the tank later this week or early next week if possible. Am I looking at days or weeks or is it simply a case of 'when it's cycled, it's cycled'? I've also added a few more plants.

Looking forward to seeing some life in the tank other than the legions of snails!

 

[rdd1952]

Once you add the starter media to your filter, it shouldn't take long. Bacteria double in about 24 hours. It should be a matter of days, not weeks.

 

[doubledee]

Once you add the starter media to your filter, it shouldn't take long. Bacteria double in about 24 hours. It should be a matter of days, not weeks.

Thanks, that's good to hear!!!