Cycle confusion

M

M-Millett

AC Members
Aug 21, 2006
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I've had my tank for about 3 weeks my ammonia levels have been at .50 and are now at 1.5. There are no nitrites and no nitrates and I've performed 10% water changes.

I've read a few articles stating that I need to keep the ammonia low for the nitrite to be created but then others say I should do nothing and the ammonia will go away on it's own to create the nitrite then nitrate.

Is there something that I should be doing or is this normal?

Also - should I change or clean the filters at all during the cycle process?

Michelle
 
This is a fishless cycle right?

You should be seeing some nitrites. If your ammonia is dropping (and you're adding the same amount of ammonia as you were before) there must be nitrite makers in your tank. Strange you're not seeing them.

You need to keep the daily ammonia you're adding to below 2-3 ppm. Larger amounts could impair the nitrifiers, but at .50 you're well below that.

Just keep adding an ammonia source every day and you should see changes. Don't mess with your filter until the cycle is over. You need all the good bacteria.
 
HTH...

(2) Fishless Cycling

Just as it sounds, you can establish the cycling environment without any
fish. This method does not pose any threat to fish, establishes a large
bacteria colony allowing full stocking upon completion and gives you time to
decide on what fish you want.

When establishing a tank with this method, you will use a source of ammonia
to initiate the nitrogen cycle. After your tank is set up, add water and
treat for chlorine/chloramines. Your filtering systems and heaters should be
in place and operating to your satisfaction.

Add ammonia to bring the tank to a concentration of 5 ppm. The amount you
add will vary with the size tank you have. Do not be in a rush. Add small
amounts and test, repeating as necessary. If you get it too high, you can
drain and refill.

Now the hurry up and wait part happens. Every two days, test your ammonia
level in the tank. When the ammonia levels start dropping, add additional
ammonia as required to keep the ammonia at 3-4 ppm, start daily testing and
test for ammonia and nitrites. Nitrites should be developing as ammonia goes
away. This first stage could take 1-3 weeks.

When you see the test results showing Nitrites, start maintaining your
ammonia at the 2-3 ppm range. The nitrites increasing reflect you are in to
the second stage. Continue daily testing for ammonia and maintain the tank in
the 3 ppm range. You will see nitrites climb so high they will be off the
scale for a reading. This will continue for one to two weeks and it will seem
the nitrites are never going to go away.

There will be a day where you test and the nitrites have completely
disappeared, thus, the bacteria that convert them to nitrates have
established themselves. When you see this drop to zero on nitrites, dose
ammonia in the tank to about 5 ppm, and wait 24 hours. If at the end of that
period, ammonia and nitrites are zero, your cycle has been established. Test
for nitrates, and do a 75-90% water change. Pull your water down to 20 ppm
nitrates and add the fish! If you have to wait to get your fish, keep the
cycle established by dosing more ammonia, but you may have to do another
water change before adding your fish.
 
If the filters are not clogged I would not change them.

If there are no fish or plants in the tank I would do nothing, just keep the lights out to prevent algae and wait it out. It is normal.

If you do have fish in the tank, I'd suggest much larger and more frequent water changes. This will not slow down or hurt your cycle. But it will protect your fish.

The amount of time a cycle takes can vary considerably from a few days to 3 months. Normally around 4 or 5 weeks.

You can accellerate the process drastically by getting a wet dirty filter or some gravel from an already cycled tank and putting it in your tank temporarily.

Adding fish medications, like antibiotics can start you over from scratch.
 
I guess that explains it then. It is not a fishless cycle as I bought the fish before we got the tank and didn't know about this whole process. One came home sick so I've had to medicate the tank so i guess that's why my levels aren't where I want them to be yet.

Thanks all for the info.
michelle
 
Michelle, if there are fish in your tank then you need to do water changes to keep that ammonia (and later Nitrite) down to un-readable levels--ie. as close to zero as possible.

Water changes will not impair the cycle, and will keep the fish out of harm :)
 
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