Helpppp Started Cycling Again?

[Phil Marsh]

Went away this weekend fish tank had almost finished cycling. Ammonia was 0 nitrites 0-0.25 nitrates 5ppm

Did a water test this evening and results are as follows
Ammonia 0.5ppm nitrite 0 nitrate 0

What's happening?!?!?!

 

[Flubberlump]

Have you checked your pH? The cycle could have stalled if the pH has dropped too low. I had exactly the same thing last week; went away for a day or two when the cycle had almost finished, and came home to find ammonia readings but no nitrite. I checked my pH and it had dropped from 8 to 6, stalling the cycle.

Have a look at my thread here as I've had some really useful advice:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/392109-fishless-cycling-help-please/page__p__3294306__fromsearch__1#entry3294306

 

[Phil Marsh]

My ph has increased from 7.4-7.6 all the way up to 8.2 what's going on!!!!!
I'm so confused everything was going do well.

 

[sadguppy]

Keep measuring for a few days and post back.

Are you using prime? Sometimes it can give a small false positive reading for ammonia so it may be worth checking before losing heart, I doubt you are back at square one.

If you have lots of live plants or didn't shake the bottle vigorously enough that could potentially explain disappearing nitrates.

 

[Phil Marsh]

I have Loads of live plants! But I used bob martins tap water safe and the stress zyme after each water change. Is this the same as prime?

 

[Phil Marsh]

I have just realised that the ammonia reading is coming from the tap water

Does this mean I am fully cycled?

Ammonia 0.25(tap water) nitrites 0 nitrates 40-80ppm (I shook the bottle )

 

[CezzaXV]

Do a dose of 4ppm ammonia at your normal test time. If there's nothing but nitrates left 12 hours later, then yes, you're cycled.