Cycling My First Tank.

[Aliena]

ah it does feel super long the whole cycling process, are u about 2 weeks in now? normally u should have been able to drop right down from 5ppm --> 0ppm ammonia by now. But you have seen some drop so far which is promising, shouldnt be long now for ammonia to be processed much quicker. You have to stick with it, you can't give up now!!!!! Which ammonia are you using also?

also i have the fluval u2 which has some ceramic-like media also, does the 2plus also have this? or is it just the white sponges? I kept my carbon ones in as they are attached to the filter floss pad so couldnt separate it.

the temp and pH are fine, I also kept my tank at 30-31 for a week or so, didnt do any harm in my case.

I'm over 4 weeks into the cycle. It seemed to be working till day 10. Then after that it stalled and hasn't moved since. Today is day 29 so that is 4 weeks and one day. As you can probably tell from my post I am really, really fed up. My boyfriend won't let me dismantle the tank but if it hasn't moved by this time next week I think I will do because a hobby is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable and at present this just isn't. I spend the whole time trying to work out why it stopped moving.

The 2plus just has the sponges, no ceramic media. I'm using Homebase ammonia.

Sorry if I sound down, it's just getting me that way.

 

[yasinullah]

i totally understand as even with more progress I was still getting down, when it seems stalled its really frustrating, have you done any water changes??
it might just be that somethings happened to your colony and so now you'll need some starter bacteria again (which hopefully will come from the new water you put in), so a water change might help? though I'd wait for someone like waterdrop or om47's opinion on doing the water change.

I can't believe its been 4 weeks thats crazy! if its not been possible to get ammonia down from 5ppm to 0ppm , i would perosnally definitely do a water change asap, maybe something (some other chemical etc) has built up in your tank causing the stalling of the cycle.

 

[Aliena]

i totally understand as even with more progress I was still getting down, when it seems stalled its really frustrating, have you done any water changes??
it might just be that somethings happened to your colony and so now you'll need some starter bacteria again (which hopefully will come from the new water you put in), so a water change might help? though I'd wait for someone like waterdrop or om47's opinion on doing the water change.

I can't believe its been 4 weeks thats crazy! if its not been possible to get ammonia down from 5ppm to 0ppm , i would perosnally definitely do a water change asap, maybe something (some other chemical etc) has built up in your tank causing the stalling of the cycle.

I have been wondering if a water change would help but I just don't know. Would take a while to do a water change at present because my daughter would have to do it because I have been ill and my asthma is too bad at present. She will do it if necessary but is only 11 so could only carry half buckets! Suppose I could ask my boyfriend but he'd only moan and the little one would probably be more careful with dosing the water conditioner.

My boyfriend thinks that instead of giving up i should give it till next weekend, if still no movement clean everything, buy new filter media and start from scratch again. I think that may just be too demoralising though!

 

[OldMan47]

You definitely do not want to start from scratch. That would put you back on day 1 again.

 

[MDG]

if it makes you feel better, i'm in like my 7th week and feeling the same way. don't give up, i haven't!