Cycling Problems.

[Luketendo]

I started cycling last Thursday and added about 4ppm - 5ppm of ammonia. A week on it has not changed at all.

The pH is fine as it is 7, the temperature is 34 degrees Celsius approx.

I've heard the ammonia you initially put in is meant to have gone within about a week and as I have put some of my mature media in the tank I don't know what's happening.

Can anyone help?

 

[Underwurlde]

Sorry, you say you've added 4 to 5ppm ammonia? What is the total ppm ammonia in the tank?

Can you not seed your filters? Have a look at those members here on TTF who may live near you from whom you can seed....

Andy

 

[GRJ]

You need to get the ammonia up to 5ppm in the tank when tested. I dont know what you mean when you say you added 4-5ppm? I dont think its always definate that it takes a week either. I would imagine everyone gets slightly differing time scales. GRJ

 

[Luketendo]

Well the liquid reading is of kind of weird colour and my API test kit's colour card doesn't have 5.0 on it only 4.0 and 6.0, I think it matches 4.0 best.

 

[Underwurlde]

Ah, get you know. That is fine. (what do you mean 'wierd colour' BTW?)

Right, what about seeding then?

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

I don't mind really how long it takes i've got about 10 weeks for it to work, I'm just a bit worried in how nothing has happened yet.

I don't know it's kind've between green and turquoise, it just doesn't fit on the chart very well when I put it in the light.

 

[Underwurlde]

Are you dechlorinating the tap water you're using?

(soz if obvious q)

 

[Luketendo]

Are you dechlorinating the tap water you're using?

(soz if obvious q)

Yes .

 

[Underwurlde]

Erm, (quick think of something).... filter switched on & running?

Apart from that, pH: fine, temp: good, water: dechlorinated...

Just guess you're gunna have to wait my friend! Give it another week perhaps?

 

[Leitch]

My tank started horribly. I added too much ammonia (must have been around18+ppm) and i had to do multiple 99% water changes.

Then out of nowhere i get lots of bacteria. Just hang in there.

 

[Luketendo]

Filter is a hagen elite stingray 10 and is for use up to 50 liters, my tank is 35 liters.

I guess it's waiting I should be doing then.

Bogwood can't halt the process can it?

 

[Underwurlde]

Unlikely, but possible. Have you soaked it in boiling water first?

 

[Luketendo]

No I haven't the guy at my lfs said it has been in bogs for millions of years and that would've cleaned it up. All he said was to drill a small hole in it so that gas doesn't build up inside it. (It's kind of like a shelter/cave piece.)

 

[Underwurlde]

No I haven't the guy at my lfs said it has been in bogs for millions of years and that would've cleaned it up.

1) If it was anywhere for 'millions of years' it would have fossilized.
2) It's in a BOG, which is not exactly CLEAN.

All he said was to drill a small hole in it so that gas doesn't build up inside it.

1) If 'gas'... Oh I give up!

Never heard so much drivel in all my life. Pities sakes.

Anyway, am I bovvered about your bog wood, soaked or not? No. Is it leeching tannins (is the water brown?)

 

[Luketendo]

The water is yellowish and I heard tannins were good for the fish from here.

I heard you can 'clone' tanks? How do you do that since I already have a 65l set up?