Tank Cycling Ammonia In 12Hrs What Next?

[Deleted member 107737]

Hi All,
 
My tank has been cycling ammonia in 12hrs from 4ppm to 0ppm.
 
It has been doing this for the last 2 days.
 
What should i do next?? the tank is in a right state (glass etc from leaving it alone during cycling)
 
how soon can i add fish??
 
I have my platies in a smaller tank at the mo,,,, just waiting to move them to the 150litre one.
 
Sooner the better cos i think they need a bit more space as there is 8 of them and they are chasing each other.
 
Thanks,
 
Dave


sorry i meant to say also my nitrites are 0ppm too.
 
thanks


nitrates are red on my api tester

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Have you had the NitrIte 'spike' yet? If so then, theoretically, your filter is ready for fish (once you complete a MASSIVE water change to get those NitrAtes down though)...but what is normally reccommended is to carry on adding Ammonia for another few days, just to prove everything is ok and not some freak of nature water test results.
 
Terry.

 

[Deleted member 107737]

Hi, yes I have had the nitrite spike. the tank has been cycling baout 4 weeks i believe with the addition of filter squeeze and some media cotton taken from an established filter.
 
Just put another 4ppm in the tank at 9am so check again at 9pm and put another dose at 9pm if all is well then tommorow do a massive watrer change and let temp get up to required 25C and jobs a good one.
 
 
How much water change would you do?? 150 litre tank.
 
Thanks,
 
Dave

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I would take it right down to the substrate, refill with fresh, warm, dechlorinated water then you're away to go !!!
But i really would continue for a few days just in case. I lowered my ammonia dosing to 2ppm for the final week...some say it is a good idea, some say not, but it certainly didn't to my tank, filter and my first fish and harm.
Congratulations on a succesfull fishless cycle..always refreshing to see !!!
 
Terry.