Fishless Cycle Help! 10 Gallon

[npandav011]

Hi,

I have a 10 gallon tank which has been running for about 2 weeks. I am trying to do the fishless cycle but I am having some problems. When I first set it up, I made sure to dechlorinate the water and let the filter (Top Fin 10) run for a day or so. Then I added Ace hardware ammonia (no surfactants, scents, etc.) and got the level to 4 PPM (I use API Master kit). 2 days ago, I also added seed material from my LFS. I added some to the actual tank and the filter. After 2 weeks + the seed bacteria from 2 days ago, my ammonia still is 4ppm. My nitrites are 0. The temp is around 84 to 86 F, as I am using a 50 watt Stealh. I received some advice to do a 75% water change and get the ammonia down to 2 ppm, so I did that. Now my ammonia has not moved at all. It wasn't moving at 4ppm either. WHAT is going on? I really want to get some fish! I am doing the Add and Wait method

 

[Katty]

It really does take forever. For me, it took at least one month on two of my tanks. For my most recent tank I stuck a filter pad from a tank that was processing a lot of waste, and it still took at least two weeks. You just have to wait, and wait some more. 4 ppm sounds good, I'd try to keep it up there but not more than 5 ppm. You want to make sure the bacteria has lots of food but don't poison them off with too much ammonia.

Was the seed bacteria from a filter or gravel? I tried the gravel before and it didn't really have a noticeable effect for me.

I think you just gotta wait. Your heat and the type of ammonia you're using (it's the same kind I use) sounds great, all you need is time.

 

[npandav011]

It really does take forever. For me, it took at least one month on two of my tanks. For my most recent tank I stuck a filter pad from a tank that was processing a lot of waste, and it still took at least two weeks. You just have to wait, and wait some more. 4 ppm sounds good, I'd try to keep it up there but not more than 5 ppm. You want to make sure the bacteria has lots of food but don't poison them off with too much ammonia.

Was the seed bacteria from a filter or gravel? I tried the gravel before and it didn't really have a noticeable effect for me.

I think you just gotta wait. Your heat and the type of ammonia you're using (it's the same kind I use) sounds great, all you need is time.

it was from a filter

 

[Twinklecaz]

My Ammonia didn't go to 0 the first time for 24 days! You just have to wait

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with the others, we've had plenty of cases where it took 3 weeks or even a month before the very first dosing of ammonia dropped to zero ppm. It can be very slow in some cases.

I'd not take your temp above 84F/29C, but I'd stay at that temp as its ideal. You don't relate your pH data, or I've missed it? Also do you know if your water is hard or soft? The members can comment on our pH.

The filter may also be a bit marginal. They do work for people but I've always felt their media volume is pretty marginal. Still, for your first 10G, I'd probably not change things yet.

~~waterdrop~~