Fishless Cycle - Ammonia Levels

[Guppi32011]

Hi, i started fishless cycle on my 45l tank 4 days ago and my ammonia levels don't seem to be dropping (2-3 ppm) also my tank is cloudy. I have the filter and heater running 24 hours a day, temperature at around 27 degrees and I also have a 5 inch airstone. When or if will my ammonia levels drop?

 

[CezzaXV]

4 days isn't that long. Just need to sit tight and know that they'll start dropping soon.

The cloudy water is likely a bacterial bloom and will clear itself up soon enough. It might help you to turn your heater up another degree or two. You did dechlorinate the water first, didnt you? (Sorry, might seem obvious but you'd be amazed what some people miss!)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It will take a while for ammonia to drop initially. Patience is the most important ingredient in a fishless cycle. The problem is that I have never found it on a store shelf anywhere. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place though.


Seriously, just remain patient. This process will take WEEKS - MONTHS. The good thing about it is that you don't have to stress during it, nor worry about your fishies while you wait. It will happen and when it does you will feel a wonderful release. Just use this time to learn as much as you can about the process and about proper fish keeping. Lots of resources available.

 

[Guppi32011]

Thanks for that as the saying goes patience is a virtue

 

[ShinySideUp]

A large amount of research (and I mean large) on cycling a tank either with or without fish seems to come up with the same conclusion in that if your pH is low then the toxic affect of ammonia on fish can be almost negligible. This is negated somewhat with higher water temperatures. Soft water is more likely to have a rapidly dropping pH.

Here in Cornwall we have soft water which comes out of the tap with a pH of about 7.5 (in my area anyway). Within three days the pH has dropped to about 6.5 and with this pH and water at 26 degrees C a safe level of free ammonia in a tank can be as much as 9 ppm and still not be toxic. See THIS SITE as an example, there are many more saying the same thing

I'm not being crassly ignorant or negligent here because obviously the ideal detectable ammonia level is zero. What I am saying though is that low levels of ammonia are not always the fish-killer that some sources claim if other conditions are taken into account.

Cheers

Martin (stands back and awaits the storm of vitriol coming my way)

 

[Tolak]

(stands back and awaits the storm of vitriol coming my way)

You'll probably find this topic of interest, as it goes into what you've mentioned in greater detail.

There is also this topic, which references difficulties found in cycling a low pH aquarium.

While this is excellent reading for the more advanced aquarist, this is the Your New Freshwater Tank section. Applying these ideas to someone who is first starting out would be similar to your first class in driver's education consisting of aiming you towards the on ramp of the local freeway.

We don't like to see crash & burn any more than a driver's ed teacher does, so we start out with safe, easy & attainable, and work from there.

 

[ShinySideUp]

You'll probably find this topic of interest, as it goes into what you've mentioned in greater detail.

There is also this topic, which references difficulties found in cycling a low pH aquarium.

Thanks for those links Tolak. I was unaware that low pH (and hence higher acid) water would tend to prevent nitrifying bacteria and this may explain a lot because in my smaller tank there is still about 0.5 ppm ammonia (pH 6.3) even though the tank is fully cycled and has been for many years.

But, you are right. I'll get out of the new tank section forthwith.

Cheers

Martin