New Aquarium- Cycling Problem – Need Help

[sarahline]

I have a 30-gallon tank and set it up like 3 weeks ago. I started adding ammonia two days after I set up. I raised ammonia to more than 6ppm. After testing for three days and see the ammonia level is that high and not gong down I decided to take half the water and be sure the level was 5-6 ppm. At the beginning I didn’t have the heater yet but after 4 days my heaters arrived. I set to 89F and the readings have been the same for about a week but 4 days ago I suddenly found that the ammonia level went to 0. I stated to test the nitrite but it was 0 too. I raised the ammonia to 5-6 ppm again but since then after 12 hrs the ammonia drop down but still no trace of nitrate. I guess now I have shift from add and wait method to add daily methods.

Now I wonder why the ammonia is going down but nitrite no trace at all? Am I doing the right way or something is wrong…I have been following up very close this topic and I was hoping I thing will be just fine but ….now I wonder should I take the water down again and start over or I should keep adding ammonia? Any help would be very appreciated


Set up running now is
30 gal long, rena Xp1, 2 x 100 watt heater and normal gravel. Daylight, actinic light and aquaclear soon to be set up

 

[Musho3210]

do you have any plants in there? And what test kit?

 

[sarahline]

do you have any plants in there? And what test kit?

Some of my plants just arrived today...only java fern and I just plant them this evening. The test kit I am using is the pharmaceutical master kit

 

[sarahline]

I was just wondering. When I set up the filter I put the media I had with it which was a foam, carbon active and nitrite remover or so...(they were like off white small rocks)....I wonder if that is the one make the nitrite not to appear?

 

[rdd1952]

carbon active and nitrite remover or so...(they were like off white small rocks)....I wonder if that is the one make the nitrite not to appear?

That would be the reason. The media is absorbing the nitrite but that's not a good thing. Basically, you become stuck with having to use them all the time and they will have to be changed or recharged ever so often as they become saturated. I would remove the nitrite remover (and the carbon for that matter as there are better media such as ceramic rings) and let the tank cycle properly. Also, I would only add ammonia once per day, about 3 ppm, until the nitrite spikes and drops. Even if the ammonia is gone in 12 hours, the bacteria will be fine until the next day.

 

[sarahline]

That would be the reason. The media is absorbing the nitrite but that's not a good thing. Basically, you become stuck with having to use them all the time and they will have to be changed or recharged ever so often as they become saturated. I would remove the nitrite remover (and the carbon for that matter as there are better media such as ceramic rings) and let the tank cycle properly. Also, I would only add ammonia once per day, about 3 ppm, until the nitrite spikes and drops. Even if the ammonia is gone in 12 hours, the bacteria will be fine until the next day.

So what are the media people general use for just a simple tropical tank and few plants...only a foam media??...Someone told me that they don't use anything else but the foam but I didn't believe.... and another told me they don't change water for up to two months...I am so confusing....so many information out there...

Okay I am going to remove those staffs and see how long the nitrate will show up

 

[pauly]

Once your tank is cycled and you have fish in there, you can put the carbon active and nitrite remover back into the filter.

Paul.

 

[rdd1952]

Once your tank is cycled and you have fish in there, you can put the carbon active and nitrite remover back into the filter.

That would be a very bad idea. First, carbon isn't necessary. Most experienced members of the forum don't use it at all unless it's to remove medications from the tank. I certainly don't. Second, adding the nitrite sponge back in would basically uncycle the tank as it would start absorbing the nitrite again and the bacteria would not have food, resulting in them dying off. Anything that removes ammonia or nitrte is bad for your tank.

As for the media, most use some type ceramic media. I use this. It's not expensive and is a great media for bacteria colonization. Carbon will work as a biological media (mainly it's a chemical filter) but the problem is that every time you change the carbon (which you have to do every couple weeks) you throw away your bacteria colony and semi-uncycle your tank.