Fishless Cycling Troubles

[MegTheFish]

Ok...guess its not cycled then

 

[Cheffi]

Ok...guess its not cycled then

It's frustrating but better to be safe than sorry, good luck

 

[MegTheFish]

Yah...its just I thought the nitrite was suppost to go from being really high to zero, and I'm afraid that it is going to have to climb again, and then lower quickly like its suppost to. I'm just really stumped on how people can cycle their tanks so quickly using the same method I am using.

 

[Cheffi]

Yah...its just I thought the nitrite was suppost to go from being really high to zero, and I'm afraid that it is going to have to climb again, and then lower quickly like its suppost to. I'm just really stumped on how people can cycle their tanks so quickly using the same method I am using.

Trust me I feel exactly the same, mine's been going for must be around 6 weeks now and my nitrites are still off the scale. It's sooooo boring.

 

[blue acara]

Hi

It may be annoying waiting for a fishless cycle...
But it is also annoying for a fish cycle. (pleese dont judge me i hadent heard of fishless cycle- first tank in 8 years)

The problems with a fish cycle are the water changes (loads of them)
2 swordtails

Im on my 12th day of cycling and the ammonia bacteria are working well ( to well!) im getting big spikes of nitrite every day- about .8, so i have to change loads of water 50% (about 26 gallons) at least to keep the nitrite down.

So im using loads of decrolinator, heating the new water basically its a mission.

I definatley recomend the fishless cycle if I ever get another tank thats wot ill do!!

 

[Cheffi]

At least you are getting in plenty of practice for when you have your full fish load. Keep up the good work

 

[zodiac]

And from what i understand when you do a fishy cycle it takes just as long to get going initially and then you have to increase your stock gradually as you need to increase the bacteria as you go with fishless cycling once the tank is cycled you can stock it straight away as you will have developed more bacteria than you really need
Keep going it will get there soon

 

[robyngunston]

I think we need a support group for all us fishless cyclers I've got nitrite and nitrate off the scale and just waiting for the nitrite to come down now and it's taking forever

I agree! I have been doing a fishless cycle for what I feel has been forever....at least about 7 or 8 weeks....I must be doing something wrong?? My Nitrite reading went up and came down and now I have a Nitrate reading going up slowly......but my ammonia just won't come down quick enough
I am running out of water?? Can I just add some treated (de-chlorinated) water...or will it mess everything up?

 

[Cheffi]

I think we need a support group for all us fishless cyclers I've got nitrite and nitrate off the scale and just waiting for the nitrite to come down now and it's taking forever

I agree! I have been doing a fishless cycle for what I feel has been forever....at least about 7 or 8 weeks....I must be doing something wrong?? My Nitrite reading went up and came down and now I have a Nitrate reading going up slowly......but my ammonia just won't come down quick enough
I am running out of water?? Can I just add some treated (de-chlorinated) water...or will it mess everything up?

What do you mean you're running out of water? How much is in your tank? Unless you're talking HUGE quantities I think you should be ok with what you have as the bacteria are multiplying in your filter.

 

[zodiac]

Have you ramped up the temp as well

 

[robyngunston]

Have you ramped up the temp as well

Yip it's sitting at about 84.

I needed to top up the water as it was about to fall below the top of the heater (about a third full) and I can't really move the heater any further down Oh well hopefully everything will come right soon

 

[MegTheFish]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG *sorry*
My tank is cycled! ::

Yesturday my nitrites were really high, I had about 4 ppm of ammonia and my nitrates were through the roof, nearly 160 ppm! Tested the tank just now and I have 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia and 0 nitrates. I know your suppost to have nitrates but my other tank did the same thing once it finished cycled, the nitrates seemed to just disappear. But everything ran smoothly and I didn't run into any problems so I'm just assuming this happens? But I guess its a good thing, I don't have to do a big water change Here's what I am adding (all of these fish are from existing tanks)
5 yo-yo loaches
4 khuli loaches (getting more)
1 molly
1 guppy
4 glowlights (getting more)
2 upside down catfish
2 bandit cories
2 bronze cories
and I think thats it...will go fish shopping in a few days, then when I get back from my trip I'll add more fish.

Edit: Maybe I should wait the full 5 minutes There is actually 5 ppm of nitrates, not 0 ppm.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Congratulations! Got there are last!
I had the same phenomenon of very low nitrates at the end, but I did the big water change anyway, just to be on the safe side. Tank seems happy now, already had my first fry in it and they are doing well.

 

[zodiac]

Enjoy

 

[Cheffi]

Well done Meg really pleased for you