Cycling Question - Too Much Ammonia?

[Zdkama]

Hello all, wonderful forum, I just wish I had found it sooner . I started a fishless cycle in a new 29g tank about 2-3 weeks ago (I sorely wish I had started a log...). Unfortunately, I am now fairly certain that I have been adding waaaay too much ammonia. The concentration i got from the hardware store is only 10%, so I was attempting to compensate, but I think I over-did it. Ammonia readings have been very high (over 5ppm, as high as my test strips go), for some time - I did not know of the "Add and Wait" method until today -, and I just began to get nitrite readings less than a week ago. The nitrites spiked off the chart (>10ppm) within a few days. As of yesterday, I also have nitrate readings of ~20ppm. After realizing the ammonia issue, I did a large water change, about 15g, however ammonia and nitrites didnt show any change. Both were still too high for the test strips. Nitrates showed a small drop, to somewhere between 0 and 20ppm (lol, I need an API test kit) and pH also went down from ~8.4 (was it so high from the extreme ammonia?) to ~7.6.

My question is, how should I bring the ammonia back down under control. Should I continue daily/bi-daily water changes? 90-100% water change? Or just leave the whole thing alone for a while? I'm worried I screwed the whole thing up, I hope I don't have to wait another month or so for fish; my other half might murder me! Thank you very much for any help.

 

[gaz gun man]

couple of large water changes to bring it down.

Yeah you should buy a liquid kit, they're much more accurate, according to most on here.

Also, 9.5% ammonia is what we all use, as strong concentrations of ammonia are only available on a licence, due to the fact it is used in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

The forum calculator at the top of the page will tell you how many mls to add

 

[Zdkama]

Thanks alot, I'll get on that . And yeah, I found the ammonia calculator yesterday too...lol.

 

[mickspark81]

just really covering whats already been said..Those test strips are pretty useless (at least mine were). Much better since i bought the api master test kit

U mentioned your nitrAtes were 20ppm..Make sure you check your tap water for nitrAtes also. (Mine comes out of tap at 22 ppm)

 

[backtotropical]

Also, 9.5% ammonia is what we all use, as strong concentrations of ammonia are only available on a licence, due to the fact it is used in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

......and bombs.........

 

[zesty]

......and bombs.........

You cant say "that word". Now you gonna have your every keystroke and phone call monitored

 

[OldMan47]

BTT is not in the US with the "homeland security" excuse for monitoring key words. I must be naive but thought we were the only ones who had to watch every word we said and never address a friend by a line like "Hi Jack".

 

[Zdkama]

Little update - Thanks again for the help, I did 50% water changes every day for a few days, and now the ammonia is under control. My next problem, is super high nitrItes. I'm somewhat confused, because the tank is capable of cycling 5ppm of ammonia to 0 in <24 hours, and nitrAte levels are fine (i did check the tap water, and there is no ammonia/nitrItes/nitrAtes), which I would have assumed meant the tank was "cycled"...but my nitrItes are super high, and they dont seem to come down when I do water changes. Do I need to just do MORE water changes? Or change more of the water till they come down under control also? I really appreciate anybody taking the time to reply to my questions that have problem already been asked a thousand times, thank you!

 

[jmkgreen]

No water changes - just wait for the bacteria to develop and consume the nitrites.

Once you can see both ammonia and nitrites be fully consumed within 12 hrs then you're safe.

 

[Zdkama]

But still keep adding ammonia right? Only like 2-3ppm/day now though? Thanks.

 

[OldMan47]

Just add the ammonia once a day up to 2 or 3 ppm. The nitrite processors need to grow their population big enough to keep up with the ammonia processors before you can call the tank cycled. At that point the nitrates will be going up about 3.6 ppm for every ppm of ammonia that you add.

 

[waterdrop]

Yup, agree, sounds like this fishless cycle is doing fine, in the middle stages and moving along...

~~waterdrop~~