Fishless Cycle - Not Cycling?

[Da_One]

Hi

was told to post in here as wasnt get much attention in the other section.

Started with gravel in it. put a few plants in & drops of ammonia. Filter on & lamps comes on 12 hrs a day.
So started the cycling about a week & a half ago.

Still the ammonia remains @ 4 ppm it hasnt moved at all.

anyways that is my 1st problem.. why is nothing happening!

Very thin white small cotton like thread worms swimming around in the water. <, where did these come from & what are they ??
Are they hazardous in my tank?

I presume water changes?

....sigh!! no.gif blush.gif angry.gif

more problems than fish in cycle lol

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Tropical...ing-Tank-With-/

difference now from other thread I have taken majority of snails out ( the ones I can see)

surely by now into the end of 2nd week I would have seena drop in ammonia...

 

[Mikaila31]

Can you get you nitrite reading?

 

[Gremily]

What's your pH?

 

[Da_One]

Right I took out about 15% of the water to get some of the worms out - raised the temp to about 30c to try and get rid of the worms - there are less now.

Ammonia now about 1-2
Nitrite 5
Nitrate 10
PH 6.8

 

[littlest]

looks like you are getting somewhere now. Keeping topping your ammonia up to 4-5ppm and wait for nitrite to fall. The white worms might be planaria. They tend to occur in tanks with high waste levels, and for this reason they are quite common in cycling tanks. They don't hurt fish, and should go once you start regular waterchanges and maintenance.

 

[steve_b21]

Looks normal to me. My tank took nearly 4 weeks to notice a drop in ammonia. Waiting for my Nitrite levels to drop now....... does seem to be taking forever, sure its worth it in the end tho

 

[Gremily]

As other's have said just keep going, but keep an eye on pH because the growth of the bacteria will slow down as it gets below 6 (but this should only be a problem if you have softer water). Sounds like the worms are probably planaria, they'll probably go once the fish have been added.
Out of interest what brand of ammonia are you using?
Good luck!

 

[Da_One]

As other's have said just keep going, but keep an eye on pH because the growth of the bacteria will slow down as it gets below 6 (but this should only be a problem if you have softer water). Sounds like the worms are probably planaria, they'll probably go once the fish have been added.
Out of interest what brand of ammonia are you using?
Good luck!

using Boots house hold ammonia.

I hate the waiting! - probably the most in patient person ever!

Have have some bogwood - would that raise or lower the PH?

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

Bogwood will lower the PH of your water, so leave it out whilst cycling. As said, if your PH drops too low, cycling will stall, so best to be safe.

It'll be perfectly ok to add it in once cycling is finished.

BTT