Doing fishless cycle. Tank stinks! Can't take the pain anymore!!

A

asincero

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Jan 16, 2006
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Like I mentioned in another thread, I started doing a fishless cycle of my 36 gallon tank, but I put way too much ammonia in the tank. I can't even tell how much ammonia I have in there because it's off the scale with the ammonia test I'm using.

My plan was to just wait it out until the bacteria colonies develop, but the problem is that the tank stinks! I don't know if I'm just overly sensitive to the ammonia or what, but the whole floor that I have the tank on has a faint odor thats making me pretty sick. I have a headache right now from the fumes as I'm typing this. I could open the windows, but it's 30 degrees outside. It's only been 3 days so far into the cycle, and I'm already getting my butt kicked from the smell. I don't think I'm gonna make it 6 weeks :laugh:.

So, my plan now is to do a 100% water change and basically start over. I probably shouldn't have to clean out the filter or anything do I? I probably won't even have to add any additional ammonia, as there'd probably be enough residual ammonia on the gravel and in the filter to suit my needs, no?

Comments?
 
Not unsual for a new tank with high ammonia to smell really musty (and it can really permeate the house.) I'd do the water change and start over. Add ammonia gradually (a medicine dropper works really well!) until you get the right amount. You may still get a bit of a smell in the early days (happened with both of my tanks too), but will go away as the cycle becomes established.
 
If you can smell the ammonia fumes, you put way to much in. My tanks had an earthy smell at first that's either gone away or I've gotten used to it but I never smelled any ammonia while fishless cycling my 3 tanks. That much ammonia may even inhibit your cycle. So, yes, a big water change is in order. After you change the water, test it for ammonia before you add anymore just to see how much residual ammonia you might have. Like Mishi8 said, use an eye dropper or other small apparatus so you can add just a drop or two at a time, wait for it to circulate thru the tank, then test the water until you hit your target level. You didn't say what kind of tests you have. If you are using the strips, you'll want to invest in a liquid kit.

Welcome, by the way! This site is great and a invaluable source of info and help.
 
I did the same thing 4 days ago (I posted a thread about it too). I was so worried because I was about to add gravel from another tank. I decided to do a 90% water change. Its not really starting over because you don't touch your filter or anything that would house the bacteria anyway (remember water changes are good). I put over 3 cups of ammonia in because I didn't realize I had to wait 5 minutes in my test kit. After the 90% water change I was down to 1ppm so now I'm back on track :) .
 
With a 36 Gal tank, after you change the water out, make sure you de-chlorinate it with Aquasafe, Prime, etc.

Next, use just a cap full of ammonia to start with. wait a couple minutes & then test it. if it's still too low, then adjust in small ampounts until you get it up to 5 PPM.


Good Luck!


-TF
 
I'd be wary of adding a capful. Cap sizes can vary, are an inaccurate measure, and you don't want to add too much. As I mentioned earlier, a medicine dropper works well...add it 1mL at a time and check to see what the level of ammonia is in the tank. Doing it accurately and gradually will give you a clear measure of how much ammonia to add during the cycling process. Oh, and don't forget to halve the original dose of ammonia once you start seeing nitrites. :)
 
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