New Tank, Cycling Queston

[peter212693]

Thanks guys, it strange it seems ive had my Nitrite spike as it went off the scale 8+ppm and now is down to about 0.5 but ammonia has never dropped below 1ppm

 

[Em29]

Peter I am fishless cycling too and have had some strange results....It is true that every cycle is different. Goodluck!

 

[peter212693]

Quick update guys. Im now using a API test kit, I addded ammonia up to 3ppm after it didnt move from 1ppm for 48 hours. Its gone down a little but im getting 0 nitrite. Is it likly after my nitrite spike the bacteria levels are high enough for me to not see the nitrite as it converting it very fast?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, that is a possible explanation. Remember, though, in the early days of a fishless cycle the feedback patterns you get from your test results will not be as straight-forward as they will get later and the important thing is simply to stick with it and wait for your biofilter to grow and become stable. It will then begin to show you that it can take a dose of ammonia and quickly drop both the ammonia and the nitrite to zero. Eventually you will focus on how many hours it takes it to do this as a way of determining its effectiveness. wd

 

[peter212693]

Ammonia seems to be really slow still. I have been told to remove my phosphate pad as phosphate is needed for the bacteria to bind. Can anyone advise of this?

Also im very tempted to switch to a fish in cycle. Im thinking as my filter has some bacteria already as im getting rising nitrates would it be worth it?

 

[micknat]

why are you adding ammonia? ive never added ammonia. my water was 0.5 ammonia no nitrites an 10ppm nitrates and ive had it nearly 4 weeks. did nearly put a whole bottle of tapsafe in it and i dont have any live plants though

 

[chrisjd]

I started my fishless cycle on the 24th June and am having the same problem, Ammonia doesn't want to go down. It's gone down slowly at some points but never below 1ppm. Nitrites went up to 5 at one point and then back down to zero so the N-Bacs are doing their jobs though! I'm also using a phosphate remover, didn't know it could interfere with the bacteria be interested to know whether it is best to take it out?

 

[peter212693]

I took the plunge and bough 6 zebra danios last night Ammonia is a 0 and so is nitrite and nitrate is around 10ppm

Do you think its worth adding some more stock to keep my "nearly cycled" filter's bacteria up?

 

[peter212693]

Hello again everyone,

I would like to thank you for all your help! It did seem that my tank was cycled after all, well I hope so... ( still unsure about the strange readings though ) so will keep a close eye on the water for a while.

I now have have 33 fish in there and over the last 24 hours rock solid 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and a steady rise in nitrate. The stock I have is:

6 Zebra Danios
12 Neon Tetras
6 Five Banded Barbs
5 Cherry Barbs
4 Clown Loachs

I have unloaded a little video here:

http/youtu.be/KClqr1y2U8U

They are still all a bit shy at the moment, apart from the danios! The clowns are still swimming around like crazy but still only been in for 24 hours so should settle down soon. Im unsure of what else to get, was thinking Black Phantoms and a bristlenose pleco but I dont know!

Once again thanks to everyone and let me know what you think!