Fishless cycling question(s)

[jpappy789]

In continuing to add ammonia when there's a small amount of ammonia already there (0.50), am I risking this cycle going on forever in the form of a high nitrite as the nitrite-eating bacteria keep struggling to keep up with the ammonia-eating ones?

Nope. Normally people go with around 3-5 ppm ammonia so I don't see an issue adding a bit more than what you have. The nitrite-to-nitrate bacteria should be able to keep up since you're showing nitrates.

This may be idiotic - bear with me: Since I already have nitrate present (around 40 now), and this tank is NOT going to be heavily stocked, is there a chance that the reason I'm showing such high nitrites and even still showing ammonia because there's SOOO much gunk in the tank (flake food and a ton of snail poop), and if I was to clean that stuff up, those levels would fall to 0 and I would indeed have a cycled tank? In other words, is it possible that it IS cycled now but badly out of whack because of all the gunk? Or is that wishful (and dangerous) thinking?

Hard to say. I'd let the the ammonia get converted completely and let the nitrates rise a bit more than that...to be on the safe side.

Also, once I'm finally cycled (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, measurable nitrate), and I do a 50+% water change and gravel vac, do I also squeeze out the foam that's at the first level of the filter (have Eheim substrat as second & third levels)? The foam has to be FULL of the gunk I've been throwing in that tank... ? Obviously I know not to CHANGE the foam, but do I swish it out in used tank water once the cycle is over or leave it be?

Shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Saje]

I'd let the the ammonia get converted completely and let the nitrates rise a bit more than that

When you say let it get converted completely, does that mean I should keep adding gunk to the tank, or I should stop now and let it fall to 0?

Shouldn't be an issue.

That's good. So you're saying it doesn't matter whether I do or don't squeeze it out?

I feel awfully dense...

 

[jpappy789]

I'd add some pure ammonia if you can, go through all the testing(s), and if everything comes up good then call it cycled...just to make sure. It shouldn't take more than 24 hours, I would think, to go from ammonia to nitrate.

Cleaning the media shouldn't affect the cycle.

 

[Saje]

Will try, as Xman said, to find it with surfactants but not detergent. Not having any luck at the moment. Would much rather use real ammonia but cannot find it anywhere.

 

[Saje]

Okay - a little wrinkle hopefully you guys can help with. For 2 days, the ammonia and nitrite has been 0. I'd planned to move the snails in this morning - making the assumption that the tank was cycled. This morning, I find that the heater never switched back on and my temp in there was 70. (There's another thread about that 0 I worried the bacteria suffered for it, you all said no - thankfully.) So, add one new heater and wait for the temps to go back up to where I need them for the snails. Tonight, I get all ready to do a gravel vac and water change, and test one last time first. Ammonia is 0. Nitrite goes right away to purple - about 1.0! What?? :wall:

What on earth is this about? Now, I was never able to find ammonia without detergents in it (anywhere!), so have been adding snail poop (siphoned from the other tank) and ground up fish flakes so the floor in there is filthy. Really filthy. Covered. Last night I actually swished out the bottom level of filter foam in the tank (to clear the filter a bit AND add more gunk to the tank). Still I wouldn't have expected nitrite to go from 0 to 1.0 because of it. What's going on? Does this all mean this tank is NOT cycled? Or is it cycled, just needs to be cleaned finally? (NitrAtes, btw, are about 40.) What should I do here?

Thanks....

 

[Saje]

Quick update: This morning nitrite is still 1.0 and now ammonia is 0.25. Thought this tank was *cycled*. :shakehead:

 

[joel.uejio]

Maybe when you rinsed the sponge you released a bunch of ammonia-generating gunk into your water, so now your tank is going through a "mini cycle", as it would if you added a large load of fish all at once.

I would suggest:

+ Rinse out your filter media in your tank so all the gunk is in the tank water
+ Stir up substrate as well
+ Do 50% WC to get your tank from ultra gunky to medium gunky
+ Test daily -- should see ammonia and nitrite levels fall again and nitrate rise
+ Only add more fish food if your tank looks and smells too "clean"

Good luck!

 

[Saje]

Thanks Joel! Will do.

(Ammonia is now at 0 and nitrite at .50 - once they fall to 0 again, shall I assume it's cycled?)