How Long Is A Piece Of String?

[Xraymark]

The tap water will have killed any bacteria that were already existing on the sponge, but it shouldn't stop any new bacteria forming.

You know, if I was in your position, I'd be tempted by now to do a massive water change(s) to get rid of the ammonia, then start stocking and fish-in cycle.

You have got media in your filter, right? (again, sorry if it seems a stupid question but I really can't see where you're going wrong). You're not colour blind, are you?

Unless the wife is too . I make her check my test tubes. Brave to mention a fish-in cycle but I think the amount of water changes would do me in. I think I either do a large water change and restart only, or as well change all the sponges in the filter.

 

[HayzH]

i waited till day 55 in my tank...then gave up. But i was getting some double 0's. What are your Nitrites doing?
i would do a 100% w/c and gravel/sand vac lower your dose of ammonia..so it only goes up to 2-3ppm..see how that goes...if it starts clearing go up 1ppm at a time. x

 

[Xraymark]

i waited till day 55 in my tank...then gave up. But i was getting some double 0's. What are your Nitrites doing?
i would do a 100% w/c and gravel/sand vac lower your dose of ammonia..so it only goes up to 2-3ppm..see how that goes...if it starts clearing go up 1ppm at a time. x

My nitrites are 0. Always has been. The cycle just won't kick off.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I was just reading on another post that someone's cycle took nearly 45 days, so I'd be patient and keep doing what you're doing for another week or so. I'd hate to see you give up at this point just to start all over.

It's like me backing up my computer for the first time ever (I know. I'm an idiot). It got about a quarter of the way through and I stopped it, thinking something was wrong. Now I'm in the midst of it all over again! Might have been done by now, but it looks as though I have at least another day or so before it's done. Gah.

 

[HayzH]

then i would start over...start with a lower dose and work it up to 5ppm x

 

[orandas]

over 29days and ure cycle hasn't even kick-off???
something is off.

Recheck every equipment, water paramters, ure tap water parameters, get a water report from your water authority.

You're using tap water not bottled water right?

Do a 100% tap water change

No point doing a fish-in cycle, if you can't even get nitrite after 29days, ure poor fishes will be sitting in ammonia, for too long.

Previously i was doing a fish-in cycle, doing 2x60% per day = 120%/dy, and its a large tank - i was knackered and my poor fishes were suffering, despite using prime.

there is an explaination for ure stall, you just gotta find it and solve it.

maybe use a tiny tiny pinch of crushed flake fish food with ure pure ammonia??

 

[Xraymark]

Straight after my last post I made decision and changed the water down to the gravel. Kept the filter media as is. Will run up to temp and add ammonia to 2 ppm. My tap ph is 7.2 so will get that up to 8 with some bicarb. Set my temp to 28C.

Much the same as last time, just reducing my ammonia initially. Will try some flake fish food as well.

With luck I may have fish by Christmas

Thanks for the feedback and will update my progress.