Having Problems Completing My Fishless Cycle

[adzilla88]

Well, for 2 weeks or so it seemed my fishless cycle was running smoothly, with the Ammonia at 0, and Nitrites off the scale. However, after going away for a weekend and asking someone to continue dosing the tank with ammonia (I just asked them to do it once a day) my Ammonia readings have risen dramatically to around 6-7 ppm.

I noticed this yesterday after testing the water, so decided not to dose any more ammonia until it had reduced, and again today it hasnt dropped either. I have live plants and they arent looking too great at the minute, and the water has become extremely cloudy.

If I was to do a big water change would this ruin any progress already made during the cycle?

Also, on my other tank, I have an internal Fluval u3 filter. If i moved this to my new tank, I presume it would significantly speed up the process. I already have 2 x 1,000 lph All Pond Solutions Externals running in this tank.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[guppi]

I would give it another day, it should have dropped some by then. If you add an other filter it will eventually share the bio need for the tank, not make more.

 

[waterdrop]

This problem of things getting off when people go away is something we've seen before many times and it usually doesn't take too long for things to get back on track. I wouldn't let it get to you.

Actually a full down-to-the-substrate water change (with conditioned and temp matched return tap water) and then re-charge of the correct amount of ammonia is usually an excellent thing to do in these situations.

Obviously, adding a mature filter to a fishless cycling tank will give the appearance of the cycle being jumped forward, but it does not actually accelerate the process of cycling the original filter unless you transfer mature media from one filter to the other. Transference of bacteria from one filter to another via the tank is exceptionally slow, on the order of months.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[adzilla88]

Thanks for the replies.

Just to keep people updated, I just did a 80-90% water change and my Ammonia reading is still 2ppm. NitrItes are approx 2-3ppm and NitrAte is about 15-20ppm.

I've decided to wait until tomorrow morning and see if the Ammonia has processed, before adding any more.

Adam

 

[adzilla88]

As you have guessed, I was having trouble completing my fishless cycle.

However, I am still getting traces of Ammonia showing from my results (4ppm after dosing 24hours previously), but my NitrIte is returning to 0 in around 12 hours.

For the first few days after a waterchange I can add Ammonia and it will return to 0 in 12-24 hours, but about 5-6 days after a water change the water just seems to get cloudy, which in turn seems be the same time the Ammonia doesnt process.

I dont understand what the problem is, can anyone help please?

 

[waterdrop]

I don't understand that pattern either adzilla. Where is your overall log? Are you checking pH pretty often? Is your temp holding at 29C/84F? I assume your flow from the two big externals has remained in good shape? There's just a tanks and substrate, no other unknowns, right? No Zeolite or other chemical resins or leftover bacteria-in-a-bottle products, right? I don't know, pretty weird pattern - it certainly sounded like you were in the nitrite spike phase and it would be highly unusual to somehow kill off the A-Bacs and not the N-Bacs also. You've always used a good conditioner dosed at least to the recommended amount, right?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[adzilla88]

Where is your overall log?

I will try to get my log uploaded as soon as possible.

Are you checking pH pretty often?

Yes, it’s a constant 7.2.

Is your temp holding at 29C/84F?

Yes, its has remained at 84F during the course of the cycle, although it is set at 32C on both the 150w heaters.

I assume your flow from the two big externals has remained in good shape?

Yes, the flow seems fine.

There's just a tanks and substrate, no other unknowns, right?

I bought the tank second hand, so before setting up I ensured it was thoroughly cleaned and washed out. I used tap water and a scrubbing brush, no chemical products. Also, the substrate is play sand, which I washed several times (again in tap water) before use.

I heard that when using sand, you need to stir/ sift the sand around to prevent the built up of gases underneath, could this have anything to do with it?

No Zeolite or other chemical resins or leftover bacteria-in-a-bottle products, right?

No, I haven’t used anything other than ammonia. The only other thing I have dosed during the cycle was “Ferrapol” (plant fertilizer), which I overdosed by accident towards the start of my cycle, but since then I have done 2 x 90% water changes.

You've always used a good conditioner dosed at least to the recommended amount, right?

I had previously used Nutrafin AquaPlus as a conditioner to the recommended amount, but have recently changed to Seachem Prime. However, I was having the ammonia problem before making this switch.

 

[Aqua Tom]

I heard that when using sand, you need to stir/ sift the sand around to prevent the built up of gases underneath, could this have anything to do with it?

Not in the slightest. Its kind of an urban myth.

A~T

 

[adzilla88]

Hmmm, after further inspections, I have found that the temperature could well have caused this problem. Someone had altered my heaters, upping them both to 34C, which I wasn't aware of. From looking on the thermometer (Marina LCD Thermometer), It was showing to be most colourful on the 84F-86F, which I supposed was OK.

Now I beleive it was only showing this figure as it was at its upper limit (86F is the highest reading that it can show), when in fact the water temp was actually somewhat warmer than this.

If so, then I'm guessing that the warm temperatures were too high and killed off/reduced my A-bacs, but somehow failed to affect my N-bacs, which would in turn explain the strange results I've been experiencing recently?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, a hot tank can definately cause you some troubles. Now that you're back down to 29C we should see some progress, since I remember all your other parameters being pretty good (I think.) WD