Yet Another Fishless Cycle Question

[Attilauk]

im sorry if this has been covered before, i've searched and not found an answer to my problem.

i have a 240 litre tank, my PH is 7.2, GH 10, KH 6 and my temperature is set at 26C (79F) im using tetra test strips and an API master test kit to take all my measurements

i added Jeyes Kleen Off Ammonia to bring my Ammonia level up to 4ppm 10 days ago. I've been testing Ammonia levels daily, every couple of days the Ammonia level drops to 2ppm at which point i add more Ammonia to bring the level up to 4ppm and test the Nitrites. even though the Ammonia level drops im still getting 0ppm readings for Nitrite and Nitrate.

how long does it nomally take to start to see Nitrite levels? i thought i would have seen something by now

 

[Axleuk]

im sorry if this has been covered before, i've searched and not found an answer to my problem.

i have a 240 litre tank, my PH is 7.2, GH 10, KH 6 and my temperature is set at 26C (79F) im using tetra test strips and an API master test kit to take all my measurements

i added Jeyes Kleen Off Ammonia to bring my Ammonia level up to 4ppm 10 days ago. I've been testing Ammonia levels daily, every couple of days the Ammonia level drops to 2ppm at which point i add more Ammonia to bring the level up to 4ppm and test the Nitrites. even though the Ammonia level drops im still getting 0ppm readings for Nitrite and Nitrate.

how long does it nomally take to start to see Nitrite levels? i thought i would have seen something by now

The whole process can vary and can take from 4-6 weeks for the tank to fully cycle. There is not definative time period that you should be seeing Nitrite and Nitrate readings.

Are you using the API Freshwater Master Kit to test for Nitrate? Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and shake the bottles as instructed. This is more important than you think. If you would like to know why, feel free to ask and i will explain, but not shaking enough or not shaking at all can give false readings.

I appreciate you are doing a fishless cycle which is fine and will accomplish your goal eventually, but have you considered using Bactinette? Bactinette is a live bacteria that will allow you to cycle your tank within a few days and have your tank ready to add fish, albeit in small amounts to start with.

You are in Bristol and i do believe the following place has some in stock.

Bristol, Wyevale Garden Centre, Hicks Gate, keysham, Bristol, BS31 2AD: Tel: 0117 9772955

You will need approx 3 tubs as 1 tub treats 100 litres of water. They are normally £5 per dose. £15 and you can have you tank up and running in a few days.

Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[Attilauk]

thanks for the reply

to be honest i've not used the API test for Nitrate yet as i've not seen any Nitrite on the API test, cheers though i will make sure i follow the instuctions correctly when i do.

i appreciate that im in for the long haul with fishless cycling i just thought i would have seen at least a small amount of Nitrite by now...

i had not even considered using a bacterial additive, however for £15 i may give Bactinette a whirl. even if its just to kick start the cycle.

 

[minxfishy]

Having only been 10 days since you first added the ammonia, I wouldnt worry too much about seeing the nitrite just yet. However, I would wait until the ammonia had dropped to 0/0.50 before adding anymore or you may find yourself with a backload of nitrite when it does show up. Give it another few days, you will eventually see that bright blue turn purple on the test and then it will seem like an eternity before that finally spikes and returns to 0. I wouldnt worry about testing for nitrates just yet, you have no nitrites so unless you have nitrates from your tap water - which a lot of people do - the result wont mean much.

 

[Attilauk]

thanks minxfishy, that has put my mind at rest a bit.

i was just a little worried that i had done something wrong and was wasting my time...

 

[Attilauk]

14 days and still no nitrite

 

[minxfishy]

How much ammonia are you processing? What temp is the water? Can you test your ph again to make sure its steady?

 

[Attilauk]

i will check the PH again tonight when i get home but so far its been holding steady at 7.2

i have been keeping the Ammonia level at 4ppm, it dropped to 2ppm a couple of times last time was 5 days ago

the Temperature is steady at 26 degrees C

is there any way i can test the chlorine level of the water? it was treated with the recomended dose to remove chlorine and chloramine but if there is any left i would have thought that would have an effect.

 

[minxfishy]

If you used the right amount of dechlor then it would be fine, dont think you need to worry about that. At the moment its not processing much ammonia so that would be why no nitrites yet, but if the ph has dropped that could be a cause of the cycle stalling. Check that first and see where we go from here

 

[Efren]

14 days and still no nitrite

that's a bit different than my results - -
started Fishless cycling 4days ago -
and I've got a 0.25 reading today for NitrITES...

dunno' if it's NORMAL though -
still NEW to this.... "very new"

 

[minxfishy]

Some can take weeks to start to process ammonia others within days, may have something to do with the hardness of the water, maybe the heat of the water etc - lots of different variables.

Ive got my 50g cycling at the moment and its taken 12 days to see any drop in ammonia, but now Ive got nitrites off the chart even without it processing its first amount of ammonia!! Never had that happen, could be the amount mopani wood I have in it, could be other things, each fishless cycle ive done has been different - one of the reasons I like to do it, I find it interesting and I gain more of an understanding of cycling as I go along

 

[Attilauk]

Cheers minxfishy, i will check my PH as soon as i get home and post up the results

that's a bit different than my results - -
started Fishless cycling 4days ago -
and I've got a 0.25 reading today for NitrITES...

Git

 

[minxfishy]

ROFLMAO dont wind up Attila its not good for his health

 

[Attilauk]

lol thanks minxfishy, i always get picked on *snif*

just a thought, my tank is planted, im adding flourish potassium and flourish iron twice a week and flourish excel daily, would any of that have an effect?

 

[minxfishy]

Ah see now your into something I cant help with, I dont have planted tanks, so have never used the additives. However, the plants would use up some of the ammonia and nitrite and the nitrate once its get there, so that may have a small effect - how planted is it - heavily? Someone who knows more about plants might be able to help out with that query - sorry.

The only other thing that has occured to me is, do you have enough surface agitation? Either via filter outlet pipe or airstone? As the oxygen levels in a fishless cycle may lower due to the higher temperatures.