Oh Come On!

[Leitch]

This is so annoying.

My tank could take down 4ppm of ammonia in 15 hours, no problem, and i was waiting for my nitrates to drop. So i just kept topping the ammonia to 3-4ppm each day.

But now, 12 hours after adding the ammonia, i just tested it, and no drop!
No drop in ammonia!

What is going on?

This is really annoying and i hope it drops by morning. If it doesnt then i really dont know what to do, my cycle was going just fine, i was following all the rules: Temp, PH, etc.

The only difference in my tank is a recently added airstone, but it was in all day yesterday and the ammonia got broken down fine.
Besides, i dont see how an airstone could slow down a cycle, its supposed to help.

Any other ideas?

Night.

 

[SJ2K]

Patience.

 

[AJGray]

alive plants help to

 

[mark.w.jones]

alive plants help to

No they don't. Plants actively use ammonia before nitrate as it is easier for them to break down. So, having fast growing plants in big numbers will actually slow down the fishless cycling process to a certain extent.

 

[Jonno]

same happened with me, it was PH that was causing it... did a water change and the ammonia started being processed again streight away on the other hand, i found if the nitrite stalled it was due to aeration (my other post).

i'm wondering, do you have the boots household ammonia? perhaps they have added something to it which is causing our problems?

annoying this cycling lark, wish it was possible for fishless cycling kits which included ammonia, nitrite and bacteria, how good would that be

 

[mark.w.jones]

Fishless cycling is miles easier if you can just get hold of some filter sponge and ceramic media from a mature tank.

 

[Jonno]

Fishless cycling is miles easier if you can just get hold of some filter sponge and ceramic media from a mature tank.

it's not when you have already done that and the thing still won't cycle!

 

[mark.w.jones]

it's not when you have already done that and the thing still won't cycle!

pH must be a problem in your tank then as has been mentioned above. Sorry to hear that.

 

[Chrispixx]

What was your last Ph reading? If it dropped too low it may have stalled the cycle. This happened to me once.

 

[Leitch]

Lol. A few minutes after posting this thread i re-did the test. Ammonia reading was 0.

 

[Jonno]

sounds like you are as confused and annoyed as me leitch

 

[holidayinn]

i used boots household ammonia, with no problems...i turned the heater up and my tank cycled in under two weeks....i think the increased heat = better conditions for bacteria, therefore a speedier cycle

 

[Leitch]

Well im back on track, i must have somehow tested an old water sample.

Didnt think i was that stupid

 

[AJGray]

alive plants help to

No they don't. Plants actively use ammonia before nitrate as it is easier for them to break down. So, having fast growing plants in big numbers will actually slow down the fishless cycling process to a certain extent.

ahhhhh thanks for that i go kick my mate now lol

 

[DarkEntity]

Are you using liquid tests or paper tests. Paper ones are crap and will go off.....if you are getting various readings its worth the money and the fish's lives to get a new kit and retest.