Fishless cycle not cycling, potential problems?

TrickyD119

TrickyD119

Newb
Jan 25, 2005
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Auburn, AL
I’ve got a 10g that I’ve been attempting to fishless cycle, but I am having absolutely no luck thus far.

I don’t remember the exact date I setup the tank, but I know at the very least it has been 3 weeks.

I brought ammonia up to 5ppm when I set it up and have never added another drop of ammonia since that day and the level still reads 5ppm. There are no nitrites and no nitrates.

I know my test kit works because it reads correctly on two other tanks. Any ideas as to why I would have no results this far in? Or is it entirely possible that it would just take this long?
 
You need to seed your tank with bacteria from another tank. Your ammonia is basically just sitting there because there is nothing to eat it and convert it into nitrites.

Try getting some filter media or a cup of gravel from an established tank, this should kick start the cycle.

:dance
 
You need to seed your tank with bacteria from another tank. Your ammonia is basically just sitting there because there is nothing to eat it and convert it into nitrites.
Click to expand...

While it's true that a bacteria seed will greatly speed the process, the bacteria will show up without the seed. After 3 weeks there should have been some change.
What is the Temp and PH?
dave
 
we started our cycles about the same time trickyd... I remember reading one of your posts I think I even sent you a message... all the same I am with Jclip, I seeded my tank with a scoop of gravel, an old filter and bioballs from an established tank... my cycle is coming along pretty well (or so everyone here says) and I am frustrated I am not done yet... so I am sure you are pretty frustrated... good luck
 
Mark, yeah I just checked the date of our exchange of PMs and I had started the cycle on this tank at least a few days before that so it has been over 3 weeks :( Thanks for reminding me of that!

Kasakato, I'm almost positive my test kit is good because it reads ammonia levels perfectly fine on my other two tanks (there is none now, but it read trace amounts when there were).

I'm using Sea Mist ammonia which doesn’t say “pure” but does say “clear” and it does not foam when shaken. I was hesitant to use it, but I did a search on the forum here and know at least one member had claimed it worked. Was that perhaps false information?
 
Tricky, I used the Seamist brand ammonia to cycle my 20 gal and it worked fine. I used an established biowheel as the seed for the tank. I also added one package of BioSpira (any good LFS will have it) to speed things along in the new gravel. The cycle completed in 8 days flat. Though obviously I had a major head start with the biowheel. A normal fishless cycle shouldn't take any more than 2 - 3 weeks. What are you using to seed the tank?
 
There was no seeding with this tank at all either. I have the carbon filter in place, that wouldn't slow it down at all would it?

I bought the ammonia the day I started the cycle so it was new to me at the very least although I really have no way of knowing how long it sat on the shelf or in a warehouse.
 
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