Fishless Cycling

[Dmoney]

Hey Guy's-

I have just set-up my tank for third time after moving again recently. After joining this board, I read of the Fishless Cycling. I thought I would give it a try. I started about a week ago, adding 2 drops of NH3. The NH3 read at 5ppm, and I continued to add the NH3 daily. My NO2 have now spiked to 5.0 ppm. So accordingly to the recipe, I should now start to cut the amount of NH3 I add daily in 1/2. Once NO3 spike does that mean that the cycle has been completed? I was excited to see the nitrite's spike today, but the Ammonia level is still 5.0-6.0 ppm. Is this normal? Will the ammonia slowly settle back down now that the nitirte's have spiked? I know there is alot of questions in this thread, basically I need to know if I am doing this right? What should I do next? Thanks everyone.....maybe soon we will be able to talk about Cichlids.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

Glad to hear your nitrite has spiked. Thats progress.

Dont cut your ammonia dosing in half. Keep topping it up to 5ppm. Nitrite will take longer to fall but it does eventually.

Your tank is not necessarily cycled if you get a spike of NO3. Your tank is cycled when you can add ammonia to 5ppm and then have ammonia and nitrite readings of 0 only 12 hours later. By the time you get to this stage, your NO3 will be through the roof.

Stick at it.

BTT

Edit: P.S. Welcome to TFF!

 

[Dmoney]

Thanks for the advice. I will keep on adding the NH3. I started about one week ago, any round about idea on how long it could take for the Nitrites to start to fall?

 

[dthoffsett]

Thanks for the advice. I will keep on adding the NH3. I started about one week ago, any round about idea on how long it could take for the Nitrites to start to fall?

Generally it will take twice as long for the Nitrites to fall as it did the Ammonia.