Fishless cycle problems

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sdb

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May 4, 2004
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My tests the other day showed nitrites and ammonia 0, PH had pretty much stayed at 7.3 from day one. Nitrates were high, as to be expected. I've been adding 1 cap of ammonia daily, which I've done since nitrites showed up (half the original dose).

Yesterday, tests showed nitrites again, 0.5, and PH was up a bit, like just over the 7.4 mark (test only goes to 7.4).
So I did a 40% water change, and the tests then showed ammonia 1.2, nitrite 0.3, nitrate 40, PH 7.2. So I added ammonia to bring it back up to about 4ppm.

Today I retested. PH is going down, it's about 6.8, ammonia 0, nitrites 2, nitrates 110+ (test only goes to 110ppm).

I thought my cycle was done, it was all 0 (except nitrates, but I hadn't done my big w/c yet). What happened?? I didn't change anything, yet my nitrites are way up, higher than they ever were, and PH is wonky now. Plus nitrates are off the charts.

Help!

edit- I just noticed the babysitter had unplugged the heater last night. She needed the plug and thought it didn't matter since there were no fish in it!
Anyway, the temp's down to 68. Would that screw things up?
 
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what kind of test are you using? have you tested fresh water before adding it to the tank? maybe the water you're using already has some ammonia or nitrates in it to start with? I don't see what could cause the effects you're getting. what kind of fish are you putting in the tank, you might be better off just doing a good water change and just adding the fish and do a fishy cycle instead. Kyle
 
I'm using Hagen tests (Nutrafin). I tested my tap water, after conditioning it, and all was 0, PH was just over 6.8.

I tested my other two tanks, and they are both ammonia/nitrite 0, nitrate 5, and PH 6.8.

I did a 70% water change on the cycling tank and squeezed the foams from my other tanks into the water (I've done that a few times since starting, was told it would be beneficial). My readings are now Ammonia 0, nitrite 2, nitrate 50+, and PH 6.8.

I can't believe that after such a big change, the nitrite and nitrate is still so high. I guess I should add some more ammonia to bring the level back up after the water change, but I'm worried about what I'm going to come home to (I have to go to work now).

I'd hate to change to a fishy cycle after all this. :(
 
they are probably off of the charts because you are doing water changes on a fishless cycle.

You never do WC's on a fishless cycle.

Also, you could of had nitrites because you checked the water too soon, and it wasnt done converting them to nitrates yet
 
I was always told that water changes should be done during fishless cycles to :

-bring down nitrates that are off the chart
-bring down nitrites that are off the chart
-and to fix PH changes, and prevent PH crashes.

Just remember to add ammonia afterwards to bring it back up to the proper level.
 
worse comes to worse you can just get some bio spira, i added bio spira to my tank with nitrites at 10ppm+, the next day the cycle was complete (note* i dumped the whole 1oz bag into my 5gal).

But otherwise, hang in there. You arent doing anything wrong. Sometimes pH crashes and Temp crashes can harm your bacteria level. Keep the temp at 80+ and try not to disturb the gravel too much when you do a water change.
 
sdb said:
I was always told that water changes should be done during fishless cycles to :

-bring down nitrates that are off the chart
-bring down nitrites that are off the chart
-and to fix PH changes, and prevent PH crashes.

Just remember to add ammonia afterwards to bring it back up to the proper level.
Click to expand...


IMHO, i would ONLY do a water change on the tank before you put your fish in to get the nitrates down to a liveable level.

You dont want to do a water change to remove the nitrites, becuase those are what you need to have a fully balanced aquarium.

Waterchanges have nothing to do with pH crashes, and if anything, they will change the pH more than a tank with just sitting water (unless you have a pH changing piuece of driftwood) (ammo can also mess with pH, but as long as you dont have fish in there, it is no big deal)
 
While I would agree with the fact that water changes aren't necessary during a fishless cycle, it shouldn't hurt anything. The low temp could have, but it doesn't sound like it killed it off completely if it did hurt it. The ph changing from 6.8- 7.4 in variuos increments isn't that big of a swing. Bear in mind that if you tap water reads 6.8 after sitting out for 24 hours, you are dealing with water that has little or no KH. low kh water is far more prone to swings, it is also not real good for fishless cycling, since the biological processes consume KH. Baking soda (in small quantities will remedy this) a KH test kit is really a must IMO. if all of the KH gets consumed you will see a big crash in PH and a possibly stalled cycle.
dave
 
Thanks for the replies! :)

My tests this morning show Ammonia 0, nitrite 2, nitrate 110+, and PH 6.8. (Temp is back up to 80F)

So things are still alive, I guess, because I had the ammonia up to 4ppm yesterday.
I don't have a KH test kit, I can't get them in my small town (!), but I can order one and get it in about 5 days.
I'm also going to check 24 hr old water for PH, I'd always done the test right away in the past, so I'll see if there's a change. My other two tanks are always a steady PH 7.2.

So I'll leave the water alone and keep adding the ammonia daily. As long as things stay as it, I'm fine? Once my test kit comes in, I can check my KH.
 
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