is this normal?

[laboul]

I've been trying to cycle a 10 gallon for 11 days now. I have no nitrites at all. At first my ammonia was too high - above 8 ppm. After a week I did a water change and lowered it to 4 ppm. It's been at 4 ppm for 4 days. On Sunday I added BioSupport (supposed to contain nitrifying bacteria, I really doubt this product has done anything.)

The tank is planted, although not heavily. Temp is at 78F. Any ideas?

 

[rdd1952]

You won't have much (if any) nitrite until you have some bacteria develop to process the ammonia. Once it is processed, it turns into nitrite. Try to add ammonia to bring the level to around 4 or 5 and then wait till it drops to zero. Add to raise it to 4 or 5 again. Continue this until it is coming back down in about a day and then check your nitrites. They should be off the chart. Continue to add ammonia to bring to around 1.0 and add again each time it drops. It should come back down in 10 to 12 hours. The nitrite will take the longest to drop. The more plants you have, the quicker it will cycle. I'm not sure how much good the Biosupport will help. I'm not real familiar with it. Most people say that products like that don't do much and that the bacteria dies after a very short time in the bottle.

 

[laboul]

OK, it's been at 4 ppm for days. I guess I should just let it sit until the ammonia starts to drop, and then at that point add more back to 4-5 ppm, right?

 

[Shnookina]

I dunno if this helps but i was told to have your temp about 85F, this will encourage the bactiria more

 

[freddyk]

Different people get different results. Keep at it and all should work out. Two things you can do to help speed it up is 1) add bacteria. Most of the time bacteria in a bottle is worthless, much better to add established filter media to your filter. 2) raise the temperature. Bacteria multiplies quicker in warmer water. 3) warmer water means less oxygen - an important element. Make sure you have good surface exchange.

 

[laboul]

Anyone know how high can you raise the temp without killing the plants? I heard it should not be raised into the 80s.

I really appreciate everyone's advice.

 

[rdd1952]

I have a 2.5 gallon that is cycling and I did not use any media from any of my established tanks because I just wanted to see how long it took for a true cycle without any "seed". The ammonia is just like your, not doing much. Don't get impatient. It will take a while but be very worthwhile.

 

[laboul]

RDD - Grrrreat, that is just what I wanted to hear! I hear all these things about tanks cycling in a week, 10 days, 2 weeks and I'm thinking, "Huh?" I'm so glad someone else is experiencing the same thing. Anyway, I may see if a lfs can give me some gravel to help things along. SO how long has it been for your 2.5 gallon?

If anyone still has advice on the temp for a planted tank without fish, that would be great.

 

[sylvia]

If you raise the temp too high you can kill the bacteria as well as the plants. At most, 85 deg F is all you need to speed it up. Don't over-do it, it won't help.

 

[rdd1952]

My 2.5 gallon has been about 2 weeks now and as I said, it is going very slowly. I have the temp on my 75 gallon which is heavily planted turned up to about 90 and the plants are doing fine. The ammonia in that tank cycled almost as soon as I added the 55 to 60 plants. It now drops back from about 1 ppm to zero in 6 to 8 hours. I add in the morning before work and at night before bed. It is always back to zero when I get home in the afternoon and when I get up in the morning. Someone mentioned surface exchange. You do need an air pump to get some oxygen in the water or, if you have a hang on back filter, possibly leave the water level down so that the water creates a splash coming from the filter.

 

[sylvia]

Surface aggitation from a filter current is enough to provide oxygen. You don't need something actualy breaking the surface