High Ammonia Levels In Late Stages Of Cycling

[`Peter]

Hi everyone so it is about week 5 in my fishless cycle and I ran into some trouble recently. I did everything correctly the first few weeks: Dosed about 4ppm of ammonia until I saw nitrites shoot up and then I decreased dosage to 3ppm until they came down to 0 which they currently are. Problem is once my nitrites got back to 0 and I saw nitrates, my ammonia went up and hovered around 0.25ppm. I also saw algae growth and that "established aquarium" smell which I assume is good.

Currently my ammonia is stagnant at 2ppm and doesnt seem to be going down. My nitrites have dropped and are still 0 and my nitrates are below 5ppm. I did a 70% water change last week and had a bacteria bloom/cloudy water right after

You can see that other topic here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/391006-cycle-problem-help-d/

I havn't added any ammonia in about 3 days because it is still 2ppm every day I test it. My nitrites are fine at 0 and I don't have to worry about the nitrates because I just did a water change last week.

What could be the problem? My tank is 24G/90L with live plants and driftwood and couple days ago I removed some rotting leaves from some small plants which I thought was the issue but it wasn't. Plants are doing great btw some assorted swords and anubus.

 

[Xraymark]

Sometimes the cycle stalls due to drop in the ph with the rise in nitrates. Check your ph. You had done a large water change but may need another.

 

[littlenemo]

+1 oh level could of crashed causeing it to stall. What temp is your water. I found when I cycled with plants and wood my ph kept dropping all the time do I used bicarbonate to boost it back up.

 

[CezzaXV]

I also recommend checking your pH and dosing some bicarbonate of soda if it's low. I learnt this the hard way.

 

[`Peter]

I keep my temperature at 84 F high to help bacteria grow and all. But thanks I'll check the pH

 

[`Peter]

Ok thanks everyone, I checked my pH and its really low at 6.4 when my tap is 7.6 o.0.

What should be my next step? Should I just do a 90% WC or just add the bicarbonate of soda first? Also where can I purchase this soda bicarbonate (is it just baking soda and how much would I need to add)and if I can't find it would normal pH increasers from top fin in stores work just fine?

 

[Xraymark]

Your tap water should be checked 24 h from tap. I.e leave in a cup or bowl for a day and then measure as it can change.
You can water change or add bicarb. I used bicarb. Use a table spoon and then re test an hour later. Optimum is 8.2 but high 7 is good.