4 days into fishless cycle and no nitrites

[ClimbAZ527]

I'm not getting a single nitrite reading. Does it usually take more than 4 days for nitrites to appear on a test? I think my ammonia levels are good, but do you think I should drain my tank and start over again from scratch using the 4 to 5 drops per 10 gallons?

-Heath-

[fishypoo2]

No need to drain the tank and start over. In my mind, cycling can get over-rated, but, it is still a very important step in setting up an aquarium and should be done correctly. Generally, when I cycle a tank, I fill the tank with water, add the decorations and equipment and then get the filters/heaters running. Then, I wait a few days until the media in your filter (the sponges, specifically) start to "gunk up," or show signs of turning brown. This indicates that nitrifying bacteria are growing in the tank. One or two days after this, you may begin to add fish, but slowly, if you add them all at once then it may overrun the system and harm the fish. You need to allow the bacteria time to adjust to the growing levels of nutrients.

[JSchmidt]

If you're doing a fishless cycle and you didn't innoculate the tank with bacteria (i.e., squeezings from used filter media, some gravel from an established tank), you won't see nitrite for a week or two. You should keep the tank dosed at 3-5 ppm of ammonia; if you don't have fish, you can crank up the heat to 85 degrees F or so. That will speed things up a bit.

Many people who cycle fishlessly find that the entire process takes 3-4 weeks, about half of that time is how long it will take nitrites to arrive.

Good for you for cycling without fish! This part is hard for many people, but just think of how you're saving your fish from gill burns from ammonia.

If you have other questions about fishless cycling, ask here and we'll be glad to help if we can.

Jim

[ClimbAZ527]

Do those bacterial colonies in a bottle that you can buy from pet stores, like PetsMart, actually help speed up the cycle?

[pharoh08]

they dont speed up the cycle anymore than some gravel from a old tank will, ive used it before and i cant say i was satisfies, plus sometimes using that will make the colony go out of control. simple fish food can be used to start a cycle wich is what i do , cause its easier.

[rich]

ive neverised biospira but all things ive heard regrding it are positive so if your feeling impatient pick up some of that and you if it works youll jump start the cycle. the biospira will still need an ammonia source for the bacteria to feed from so either have some ammonia ready or a few fish.

[anonapersona]

It says to use and then stock the next day, I believe. I've read of problems if you try to use ammonia instead of adding the fish.

[Tyler718]

What you need is something you can't buy in a store. That is PATIENCE.:D I know that when you have a tank that is setup and you start getting antsy for it to hurry.

I have tried the over the counter stuff a few years back and it didn't help much or if at all. If you have a tank that is already setup you can add some gravel from that tank or some floss from it's filter. If you don't have a tank that is already cycled, you can sometimes ask your lfs for some floss or gravel from one of their tanks.

Hope this helps,

Dave

[JSchmidt]

BioSpira is new and the reports I've seen look very promising. (Still not available locally, so I haven't tried it myself.) Other stuff, like Cycle or StressZyme, are junk, and should be avoided.

Jim

[demon_surfer]

just carry on with your fishless cycle your four days in, your doing the right thing.

[superjohnny]

You're doing it right Heath, keep it up. If you are fishless cycling then you added some form of amonia right? What are your amonia readings?

[ClimbAZ527]

I"m pretty sure the reading are between 4 and 5 ppm, but the colors seem so close on the readout card.

[Erik713]

I just started a fishy cycle and used BioSpira about a week ago. I have to say that I'm amazed at how quickly the ammonia and nitrite levels have gone down. I'm at between .5 and 1 ppm of ammonia and not a trace of nitrite. I put the bacteria on the biowheel and two days later, voila! I'm still doing water changes every few days, but I've never had the ammonia get down so fast!

[JSchmidt]

Originally posted by ClimbAZ527
I"m pretty sure the reading are between 4 and 5 ppm, but the colors seem so close on the readout card.

That's perfect for fishless cycling. 4 or 5, it doesn't really matter. You're in the ballpark.

Good luck,
Jim