Is My Cycle Stalled? Ammonia Never Goes Below 1 Ppm

[eaglesaquarium]

Yup... that's what I was expecting... It is extremely close.

 

[Stormer]

Test Day 21 the tank readings were:
 
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite:  2-5 ppm
 
Test Day 22:
 
Ammonia:  0 ppm
Nitrite:  0 ppm
 
Added the full dose (Dose #5) to the tank and will test tomorrow.  

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Ever so close now.    

 

[Stormer]

Day 23 - still not cycled
 
Ammonia:  0 ppm
Nitrite:  2 ppm or a little less
 
So on to Day 24.   It looks like it is taking  about 48 hours to process the nitrite and 24 hours to process the ammonia at this point.   

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Looks like you'll likely hit about the 4 week mark to finish... roughly 6 weeks since you first started.  That's pretty typical.

 

[Stormer]

Cycle Day 24
 
Ammonia:  0 ppm
Nitrite:  0 ppm
 
Added 3 ppm of ammonia (Dose #6) and will test in 24 hours.   The days it takes to process is getting shorter.   The first time I added the full dose was Day 19 and it processed by Day 22 (3 days) and now from Day 22 to Day 24 (2 days).  I'll keep my fingers crossed that tomorrow evening the tank is cycled.   

 

[Stormer]

Cycle Day 25
 
Ammonia:  0 ppm
Nitrite:  2 ppm
 
Another day not cycled.  Starting to get frustrated.   

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Don't be frustrated... you are ever so close.  I believe the next full dose will be your final one.  In 24 hours, you are processing everything except 2 ppm.  Remember that 1 ppm ammonia added turns to 2.7ppm nitrite, so you are processing nearly 2.25ppm of ammonia completely to nitrate in a single 24 hour period.  You are on the verge of completion, and will be completed by the end of the weekend, now doubt in my mind.  
 
 
  Like I posted a few days ago.... it seems that you will finish right around the 4 week mark from when you restarted, and about 6 weeks from the initial start.  6 weeks is a pretty typical amount of time for the cycle to take.   You are doing fantastically well! 

 

[Gruntle]

I had the same frustration towards the end of my cycle, it's almost there but not quite. And then not quite again...
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the nitrite bacteria colony doubles in size (therefore able to process twice the nitrites) within 24 hours (I think it might be 14 hours), whereas ammonia bacs are closer to 8 hours to double the quantity. So another day or two will see you complete.

 

[Stormer]

So I found out I have to go out of town tomorrow which means that even if my tank is cycled I won't be able to do anything?   I will check everything tomorrow before I go but I won't be back until late on Sunday so if the tank is cycled tomorrow do I just let it sit until Sunday night or can it wait until Monday?  I know poor timing but it couldn't be helped.  

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I was going to do a long post as to why I have a feeling that your 2 ppm of nitrite is not a good reading. Will wait til you get back and see how things are.
 
Close to when you are ready to leave add a full dose of ammonia to the tank and then don't worry about it until you are back and ready to tackle it again.

 

[Stormer]

Sorry I just got your post.   Cycle Day 26.   
 
 
0 ppm ammonia
0 ppm nitrite
 
I added Dose #7 and will be able to test tomorrow before I leave to see how I am doing on processing in the 24 hour time frame.    So go ahead and tell me the bad news about my Nitrite . . . I can take it at this point.  

 

[Stormer]

So because I am paranoid about the tank I checked the other parameters of the tank.
 
PH:  7.8 ppm
Nitrate:  80 ppm or even a little more.  The red was really dark but not as dark as the 160 ppm color.   
 
I get my ammonia to finally go down and now I can't get my nitrite to process in 24 hours.   UGHHHH!!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Stormer, this is good news.  Your tank is extremely close, the last few days are always the hardest on our nerves, but not having to worry about your fish dying from an ammonia or nitrite spike when you add them is much easier on the nerves, IMHO.

 

[Stormer]

Cycle Day 27
 
Ammonia:  0 ppm
Nitrite:   More than 1 ppm but less than 2 ppm  (it was more blue purple than just straight purple, if that makes sense)
 
I will just wait and test on Sunday night when I return and go from there.   Hopefully, my tank won't be as stubborn when I return!     So on to Cycle Day 28 . . . . .