Lost conrtol of my cycle... just making sure I know how to get it back

[Dub-Dub]

Okay, so I tried to do the right thing and do a non-fishy cycle... but due to a string of factors, I lost control of my cycle... I had a little time away and also broke my test tube for the amonia test, so i didn't test for like 2 weeks or so.. maybe a bit more. I'd occasionally add some amonia to hopefully keep it moving along, but was doing so blindly. I started this about 3-4 weeks ago.

So last night I finally got a new test tube and added amonia suficient to make it about 4ppm. Nitrates and Nitrites appeared to be off the scale (200+ and 10+ respectively, I think) I am not sure if this was right, but that is what the strippy think looked like.

So i think I can just start testing more frequently and see where it goes, does that seem right? Hopefully some of that amonia will disapear tonight/tomorrow.

Any guidence would be apreciated if anyone thinks I should do otherwise.

[J double R]

well, first off, get rid of the strips. they suck. get yourself a nice test kit that tests EVERYTHING in a tube. second off, if your Nitrites and Nitrates are really off the chart, do some major water changes until theyre down, and add ammonia to be consistent with the cycle.


you can also just empty and refill the entire tank, starting over if you wish, but the above method should work just fine. :)

[ct-death]

Nitrates and Nitrites appeared to be off the scale (200+ and 10+ respectively, I think) I am not sure if this was right, but that is what the strippy think looked like.

NitrItes are typically measured in parts per million (ppm) of less than 5 (I think 10 is the max some tests go to)

NitrAtes are typically measured in parts per million (ppm) of less than 160 (Maybe some go to 200?)


Well, the god news is that you have a LOT of nitrificating bacteria! Heck you could be done, but you have no means of knowing until you get your readings down (WCs)

Personally I would do a water change to reduce your Ates then redo your Ammonia spike to 4-5ppm.

I would then test your ammonia late. late tonight or early morning and see what the drop is in say 10 hours. If this drops off a lot (near zero) test for nitrItes - you should see a similar drop if done/close to done.

Remember nitrAtes is the end product and in your case only WCs will reduce these readings. You will need to do a VERY large WC (i.e. 75%) just to get the nitrAtes down simply in order to determine and register any changes with your testing equipment.

EDIT: No damage done FYI ;)

[Dub-Dub]

**** it! I just bought new strips yesterday. I only had a few left in a bottle, so I got a new batch... I specifically asked if these were better than individual tests... that I didn't care about what was exactly easiest.

Thanks for the input. I'll test tonight, then WC, then bump the amonia, then check it tomorrow am...

I knew testing a lot would give me the better picture of what was going on, but I never thought of the WC. Thanks. (I've got to get this thing cycled soon, my girlfriend, who only partially accepts my fish keeping thinks I am truly nuts keeping a tank of nothing).

[Star_Rider]

in a fishless cycle you don't have to worry if the readings get whacky.
nitrates willnot hurt anything nor will the nitrites and as long as the ammonia isn't out of this world..it won't hurt much of anything either.

you do have to add ammonia to keep the cycle running(feed bacteria) as soon as the ammonia and nitrites hit 0 you are done and cna do a water change atleast 50% and add fish.

I did a marine cycle with uncured live rock..and the readings were off the chart..but since there wasn't anything in there but uncured live rock..it didn't hurt anything.. I was instructed to just let it run..it cycled..

you'll be fine..add the ammonia..then take a reading 12 hrs later and see what you get..if the ammonia is 0 the nitrites should be climbing (or dropping by now).

[Mgamer20o0]

i would get liquid test kit. the strips are known to give wrong readings. it doesnt matter what the nitrates are. if you have no fish in there no worries.

[Rbishop]

Make sure you do a set of readings on your tap water for comparison.

[Dub-Dub]

Funny... I did the tap water last night. I didn't trreat it for chlorine, but it registered around .25. Don't know if that matters any other than knowing it'll never get to 0.

So I tested last night and my ammonia went from around 2 to 4ppm the night before down to .25 last night. I added it up to 2 to 4ppm again last night, and it went down to 1-2ppm in about 12 hours. I will test again tonight.

As for the others (nA and nI)... they were off the charts, so I did as suggested and changed (a lot of ) water to get them back on the readable side... last night they were nitrIte was around 5-10ppm and 12 hours later it looked to be more solidly 10. NitrAte was 40-80 and this morning it was more clearly 80.

I will test again this evening, but does this seem correct?

[Star_Rider]

no fish.no need to do water changes unless the ammonia is strong enough to kill the bacteria(yours is not there)

strip tests can only get you ball park readings..invest in a drop test kit..it's worth it.

[Mgamer20o0]

sounds fine. keep adding the ammonia and testing.

[Dub-Dub]

Yea I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I added ammonia last night and it was down again today.

My nitrates and nitrites are now within the measurable ranges of the strips. Should I look for those to go up or down to know I am getting close?

[Star_Rider]

just keep up what your doing.the nitrites may go up or go down..the nitrates should rise(unless the tank is heavily planted) when ammonia and nitrites are 0 you are cycled . you can then do a water change and add fish.

[Dub-Dub]

okay, so ammonia and nitrItes are zero, after a good dose of ammonia last night... and NitrAtes are at the top of the measure, 200, I believe... I think I did it!

I am going to dose up tonight and measure tomorrow... I am so excited!