Doresy's Cycling Tank

[doresy]

Ok, so those of you familiar with my postings and replies I am trying to cycle this blessed 34 ltr fry tank. (they are bloomin' near full grown now)

It has the AquaOne hood wet'n'dry filter system (which works just fine in my maxed stocked AquaOne 850) In this filter I have half inch of foam (matured from my main tank) a layer of noodles topped with 1" new foam (6 weeks ago). At the top a layer of white wool media.

Following (advice I give to all and sundry) the pinned fishless cycle by 'rrd1952' to the letter for 6 WEEKS NOW

I get to the point of 5.0 ammonia going in around 8 hours and nitrIte dropping to about 1.5 (after going off scale). Then the blasted thing stalls Ammonia slows up and the nitrIte will NOT go any lower.

I do a major dechlorinised water change to clear the nitrAte and off it goes again.

Today,(7th week starting) I notice that there is ammonia left from this mornings addition. Usually by now it's gone, nitrIte is still between 1.0 and 2.0. It looks like it stalling FOR THE THIRD TIME

Somebody please........a suggestion?

 

[Danno]

How much ammonia are you adding to the tank? Have you checked what your tap water is reading at?

 

[DiscusAngel]

Your NitrIte will never go down to 0 unless you have a heavily planted tank sounds like your tank is cycled.

 

[Danno]

Your NitrIte will never go down to 0 unless you have a heavily planted tank sounds like your tank is cycled.

I would say that for sure. I've run many tanks and all of them never ran any ammonia or nitrite once cycled. NitrAte is always in a small amount.

 

[doresy]

Your NitrIte will never go down to 0 unless you have a heavily planted tank sounds like your tank is cycled.

I would say that for sure. I've run many tanks and all of them never ran any ammonia or nitrite once cycled. NitrAte is always in a small amount.

Confused by these comments.

1st quote says nitrIte will never go down to zero- sounds like its cycled

2nd quote says once cycled no ammonia/nitrIte present but agrees with first quote



Agreed, nitrAte never goes to zero but nitrIte must be zero along with ammonia before cycling complete

Are we mixing up our nitrite and nitrate?

 

[Danno]

I'm not. . Ammonia and Nitrite must be 0. Nitrate can have a small degree.

How much ammonia are you adding to the tank? Have you checked what your tap water is reading at?

 

[PRW1988]

if it's taking this bloody long I'd just give up and begin to cycle the tank with some hardy fish...

 

[dthoffsett]

I am so sorry to hear your tank STILL isn't cycled. I don't have any advice, just thought I'd commiserate.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate some. tahts what it should be like

 

[Amunet]

What's your pH at? Maybe it's too low and that is what is causing the stall?
I know that is what is wrong with our tanks. pH out of the tap comes out at 7.5, but once it sits out for a while it reads at 6.0 (probably lower.. need to get a better tester)... and as soon as I started to add that pH booster junk (getting coral for a more stable pH booster), the tank started to cycle like normal.

 

[doresy]

Right, I just read all these comments.....

Ph is around 7 and tap water does not register ammonia.

I am adding 3ml of ammonia which take it up to 5.0 This has been going in 8-10 hours so I add the same again.

NitrIte never drops below about 1.5-2.0. NitrAte goes up as far as 40 then I do a complete water change.

This has been going on for blimmin weeks!

Now, 3 times (a week apart) for no apparant reason I get a zero reading for nitrIte but the ammonia is still reading at 2.0 instead of 0. Next day nitIte is back to 2.0 and ammonia about 1.0

As the fishless cycle method states, ammonia starts to drop, nitrIte starts to climb to off the scale. Then ammonia goes in a day and nitrIte starts to drop. NitrAte starts to rise. When ammonia is dropping in 6-8 hours and nitrIte has dropped to zero, do massive water change to get rid of nitrAte and add fish to replace ammonia additive.

Sounds good and my tank followed this but now seems to 'fall at the last fence' each time

if it's taking this bloody long I'd just give up and begin to cycle the tank with some hardy fish...

Yes, had crossed my mind but the tank is for fry that have been patiently waiting in a breeding trap

I am so sorry to hear your tank STILL isn't cycled. I don't have any advice, just thought I'd commiserate.

Cheers

 

[Lynda B]

Your NitrIte will never go down to 0 unless you have a heavily planted tank sounds like your tank is cycled.

I'm confused. Do you mean to say that a tank without plants will never achieve 0 nitrite? I have one small plant in my 30 gallon but both my 30 gallon, my 15 gallon (no plants) and my husband's 26 gallon (no plants) are fully cycled and have 0 nitrite readings (test drops).

NitrIte never drops below about 1.5-2.0. NitrAte goes up as far as 40 then I do a complete water change.

Just curious.... why do you keep doing complete water changes?

 

[doresy]

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jun 18 2007, 06:59 PM) [snapback]1658021[/snapback]

Your NitrIte will never go down to 0 unless you have a heavily planted tank sounds like your tank is cycled.

I'm confused. Do you mean to say that a tank without plants will never achieve 0 nitrite? I have one small plant in my 30 gallon but both my 30 gallon, my 15 gallon (no plants) and my husband's 26 gallon (no plants) are fully cycled and have 0 nitrite readings (test drops).
[/quote]

This confused me too.....I'm guessing the poster means nitrAte will not go down to zero (not that it is important to be that low) as plants absorb nitrAte maybe