Cycle problem

musky48in

musky48in

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Feb 24, 2004
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I am in my second week of a fishless cycle and I can't get the ammonia to go down. I am using pure ammonia. I added it and 4 days later it is still at 5ppm. I thought that it was supposed to go down and then I add more. Any idea's what is going wrong? I did a water change to see if that would help, but nothing so far.
 
If you didn't seed the tank with bacteria (e.g., from filter squeezings from an established tank) then your results are pretty normal. It will take a while (2-3 weeks is not uncommon) for the ammonia eating bacteria population to grow. You may be able to help speed the process by bumping up the heat to 84-86 degrees. If you only test every 2-3 days, one day you'll see a distinct drop in ammonia and you'll know you're on the way.

In the meantime, try to be patient, think of the fish you're saving from ammonia burns, and hang out here to get your fish fix.

HTH,
Jim
 
I am posting here because I have a similar question(s).

I have a new 20g tank. I wanted to fishless cycle, but I went to a dozen stores, and could not find pure ammonia anywhere, and it was recommended that I just go ahead with the fish. I have 3 guppies in there, and have had them for 10 days. I have seen no increase in ammonia at all. I am willing to be patient, but I just want to make sure that I am not doing something wrong (although I can't imagine what). The other thing is, I added Stresszyme when I added the fish b/c I had a free sample. I know that it is supposed to be garbage, but I figured it wouldn't hurt. Maybe it did work?? Also, I put in live plants from a tank from the LFS well stocked with fish. Perhaps I inadvertantly added enough bacteria to get sufficiently going?

I am pretty new to all this fish stuff, but I have done a lot of research. Everybody here seems really knowledgeable and friendly (unlike some other forums I have tried :mad:).
 
Missmeow,

Since guppies are pretty small three in a 20g tank probably won't produce enough waste to show a large spike in ammonia. Also if you added plants without sterilizing them somehow they most likely do have some of the proper bacteria on them. Also plants can use ammonia as a nitrogen source. I wouldn't say you are fully cycled, but if you have had that going for say 6 weeks and still show no ammonia or nitrites you can probably start to slowly add fish every 2 weeks or so.
 
Originally posted by MissMeow
I have 3 guppies in there, and have had them for 10 days. I have seen no increase in ammonia at all. I am willing to be patient, but I just want to make sure that I am not doing something wrong (although I can't imagine what). ......Also, I put in live plants from a tank from the LFS well stocked with fish. Perhaps I inadvertantly added enough bacteria to get sufficiently going?
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It's the plants, plants will consume ammonia. Plus they are coated with bacteria.

You will still grow bacteria in the filter, for there is a small nearly unmeasurable amount of ammonia circulating in the tank past the filter and past the plants, whoever sees it first will use it.

3 guppies.... I added 5 guppies to a tank 3 weeks ago (1 mature female and 2 immature females, 2 males), now I have 15 guppies.
 
So, if I maybe do not have enough fish, should I add more, or should I wait the 6 weeks suggested? The number 3 was suggested to me by the moderator of another forum when I was getting started (and they are all males, I do not want a billion babies, cute as they are :p ).
 
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