Fed Up With Fishless Cycle

[emilythestrange]

I might have the wrong end of the stick here as so many people are saying that it's cycled, but wasn't only 2 pippettes of ammonia added before the last test, rather than 5ml?
I don't know how much the pipette holds, if it is 5ml then fine, yes, seems cycled. If the pipette is a fraction of the amount, (as I read it), and was added just to check all was working then it's possibly not cycled.

Im adding 5ml of pure ammonia to a 100l tank.... Everytime to ammonia is 0 when i test it.

I added only 2 pipettes of ammonia at 7 am
and 1 hour ago it read 0-50 of ammonia

5ml is correct for that tank, as I am using 15ml of Homebase Ammonia to cycle my 300L tank

If your ammonia goes to zero, and then you add 5ml of ammonia, what ammonia and nitrIte readings do you have 12 hours later?

yes i did only add 2 pipettes

 

[Schmill]

Ok, you need to do this test then to know where you are in the cycle:

With your ammonia at zero, add 5ml of ammonia, and then see what ammonia and nitrIte readings do you have 12 hours later.

If they are both zero you are cycled, if they are not then post the results here again and we'll try to work out where you are at

 

[emilythestrange]

Lol, it's cycled! Do a big water change to lower those nitrates...

P.S. Isn't it 2 months since mid November?!?!

yes 2 months since the new filter went in but i had the tank a month before that

Ok, you need to do this test then to know where you are in the cycle:

With your ammonia at zero, add 5ml of ammonia, and then see what ammonia and nitrIte readings do you have 12 hours later.

If they are both zero you are cycled, if they are not then post the results here again and we'll try to work out where you are at

Yes tonight i will empty the water because the 80ppm +? unsure. for the nitrates is way too high.

Then i will add 5ml and see how i go

 

[rabbut]

Don't forget to add some baking soda to the water to keep the pH steady, just in case

All the best
Rabbut

 

[emilythestrange]

Im Even more annoyed now......
I Changed about 90% of my water and de chlorinated it, used hot water from kettle to get the temp close.
Put 5ml of ammonia in 11pm last night, this morning it is 2.0 ppm or maybe even 4

I really dont know what to do now my patience has gone and its making me angry

 

[emilythestrange]

?

 

[onebto]

I can understand emilythestrange It is quite an annoying process and you seem to be having terrible trouble with your cycle. Being new to the hobby I feel I am not qualified to advise you I have read this post from start to finish and all the regulars on here I believe are giving you the write advice

Its there advice I took and followed to the letter absolutely analytically for my first ever cycle, I was lucky and it was done in just over the month.

I really really do hope things come good for you very soon

Regards Ian.

 

[rabbut]

I'm still betting on there being something poisoning the filter bactera.... What brand of ammonia is it? Have you used it to cycle before, or is it a new bottle? What does it do if you shake it?

 

[emilythestrange]

I'm still betting on there being something poisoning the filter bactera.... What brand of ammonia is it? Have you used it to cycle before, or is it a new bottle? What does it do if you shake it?

Homebase Pure Ammmonia
Used it for my 27 litre tank, this is a new bottle but same brand exactly the same.

Should i just add half the amount of ammonia because for some reason it just will never take under 12 hours to process a whole 5ml of this strong stuff!

 

[emilythestrange]

I added 5ml of the Homebase pure ammonia at 11pm 16/1/09

Readings this morning
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 1.0ppm

 

[Jimbo1984]

Do you dechlorinate the new water before or after you add it to the tank?