Fishless Cycle (is This O.k. Or Too Quick)

[Zachary1941]

Hi,
After cleaning out the tank..and refilling.NO FISH Yesterday at 3 in the afternoon added 65 drops of ammonia to bring the level up to ammonia of 4 ppm...a friend of my sons was cleaning his filters out.. So I took my filter sponges along and he squeezed the water from his into a containter and i soaked mine in it... Now this is where i need your expertise please.

4pm yesterday .. Ammonia reading 4 ...Nitrites reading 0....Nitrates reading 0.

9 am today 16 hours later...Ammonia 2 Nitrites 0.50 Nitrates 10.

Is this possible so quickly ...Worried Regards Zac

 

[JohnRossDele]

Hi,
After cleaning out the tank..and refilling.NO FISH Yesterday at 3 in the afternoon added 65 drops of ammonia to bring the level up to ammonia of 4 ppm...a friend of my sons was cleaning his filters out.. So I took my filter sponges along and he squeezed the water from his into a containter and i soaked mine in it... Now this is where i need your expertise please.

4pm yesterday .. Ammonia reading 4 ...Nitrites reading 0....Nitrates reading 0.

9 am today 16 hours later...Ammonia 2 Nitrites 0.50 Nitrates 10.

Is this possible so quickly ...Worried Regards Zac

loeave it as it is or consult with ur lfs owner or worker

 

[martinking]

Yes I would say it is possible, it happened with me when I used mature media. Everything seems fine!

i'm currently about half way through my fishless cycle now...

My top tip is to just be patient!

 

[Rooster]

Squeezing ARE NOT media... it will take at least a week to establish a culture, keep adding ammonia and test again in a few days.

 

[martinking]

Sorry I don't believe I said it was. I just explained that when I used mature media basically anything can happen.

My main point was actually just to be patient, but thanks for jumping down my throat and making me feel so welcome. Way to go there...

To be honest I wouldn't have even replied if the first response wasn't so rude and unhelpful!

Martin

 

[Zachary1941]

Sorry I don't believe I said it was. I just explained that when I used mature media basically anything can happen.

My main point was actually just to be patient, but thanks for jumping down my throat and making me feel so welcome. Way to go there...

To be honest I wouldn't have even replied if the first response wasn't so rude and unhelpful!

Martin

Hi Guys,
Sorry i mentioned this now as im feeling bad.upsetting folks with my query, but as a beginner i really do need advice.....Anyway thanks again will carry on and see what happens...im sure it will no doubt come good in the end.. but reading about fishless cycle...have not seen one where something happened so quick.. might be my API kit up the creek Regards Zac

 

[greenscooby]

Check your use by dates on your kit, if they are out of date then they won't be much good, as for soaking your media in anothers squeezed media i wouldn't hold much hope, just carry on adding your ammonia as you are, as everybody says, it's better to be patient and get it right than rushing it and getting it wrong, at least you made the right move by asking first, we are all here to help, never be afraid to ask, even if it seems like a silly question, god knows i've asked enough of them, we all have to start somewhere, and it's best to start here.

Mark.

 

[Rooster]

Sorry I don't believe I said it was. I just explained that when I used mature media basically anything can happen.

My main point was actually just to be patient, but thanks for jumping down my throat and making me feel so welcome. Way to go there...

To be honest I wouldn't have even replied if the first response wasn't so rude and unhelpful!

Martin

I didn't "jump down" ANYBODY'S throat... simply pointed out that - well you can see for yourself

Theres a TON of information on here, and can be overwhelming for anyone digging for facts... let alone newcomers to the hobby, and I saw it as an easy
mistake to misinterpret your reply, so I stepped in for clarity, thats all.... it DID read as if you were intimating it was the same to me.

Why so touchy ? When I QUOTE or mention names, then you know its personal....

 

[martinking]

Maybe it was just the way you use caps that made me think you were jumping down my throat then!

No harm done!

 

[LauraFrog]

Zac - what exactly is in your filter in addition to the sponges? Is there anything in there that looks like greyish or creamy/off white gravel? If there is, this is zeolite - ammonia remover. It will absorb the ammonia you're adding and give you a false low reading, so you'll have to get it out.
Also, what water conditioner are you using and does it claim to neutralise ammonia?

Usually when the ammonia vanishes just a few days into a fishless cycle, it's because there's something in the tank acting chemically (rather than biologically) to remove it. These aren't sustainable solutions long term because they are expensive, and have problems (like when zeolite is 'full' it discharges ammonia back into the tank).

It is possible that you've somehow put enough bacteria in the tank for that to be an accurate reading... it seems unlikely but those bacteria have a mind of their own, as anybody who's gone through a sixteen-week cycle knows.

 

[Zachary1941]

Zac - what exactly is in your filter in addition to the sponges? Is there anything in there that looks like greyish or creamy/off white gravel? If there is, this is zeolite - ammonia remover. It will absorb the ammonia you're adding and give you a false low reading, so you'll have to get it out.
Also, what water conditioner are you using and does it claim to neutralise ammonia?

Usually when the ammonia vanishes just a few days into a fishless cycle, it's because there's something in the tank acting chemically (rather than biologically) to remove it. These aren't sustainable solutions long term because they are expensive, and have problems (like when zeolite is 'full' it discharges ammonia back into the tank).

It is possible that you've somehow put enough bacteria in the tank for that to be an accurate reading... it seems unlikely but those bacteria have a mind of their own, as anybody who's gone through a sixteen-week cycle knows.

Hi Laura,
Thanks for your reply...Is there nothing else in the filter.. The top sponge which is for collecting the larger particles is clean..The only additive i have used is Tap Water Conditioner by API ..this says it removes Chlorine and Detoxify...What i have done as i was only starting the cycle was is to remove the filters, clean them, done a complete water change,using the chlorine conditioner., ..readded Amonia....Had my API test kit tested at the fish shop and its fine...No problem only 2 days lost...From here on will do the cycle without using any seeding... Thanks to all that replied ,its a big learning circle for me and the members on here are my fish learning bible with your knowledge Regards Zac