My Fishless Cycle

[charliesmith]

i have been doing a fishless cycle for almost a month now by adding 2 capsules of bactozyme every week. i tested my tank for ammonia etc today and had readings of 0.1 for ammonia and both nitrite and nitrate at EXTREMELY high levels, as in the top end of the scale. my ph was also 9.0 (could be higher only got a broad range ki). my understanding is the ph rises due to high levels of nitrite or nitrate so would it drop when my tank is cycled. also are these levels about normal for this stage of a cycle?? i also read that a 90 - 100 % water change should be done at the end of a cycle, forgive for being dumb , but would this not defeat the object of cycling the tank in the first place?? or was cycling the tank done to create benificial bacteria in the filter/gravel??! (i use an external filter and undergravel filter)

hopefully some one can help me!!

many thanks

charlie

 

[Torrean]

you have been adding ammonia I assume... Yes you should do a 100% water change after the cycle completes. The bacteria will be just fine as long as the water isn't freezing cold or hot and you have used a commercially available dechlorinator. I don't know bactozyme...