I started a 120gallon freshwater tank I have a tetratech power filter (up to 100 gallons) and a whisper 60 (30-60 gal.) I got pure amonia w no additives, and added enough to get a readings of 5 ppm on day 1. I added a little more on day 3 to get my readings to 4-6ppm and the tanks amonia level has stayed around 4-6 ppm without adding any more amonia and this is day 11 now. The amonia has not went down and no sign of nitrites at all. On day 5 or 6 I added a used filter pad from a LFS to help out but no changes. Is this a little longer than normal, what do you think? My tap water is conditioned w a simple chlorine/chlorime remover. I used 2 different test kits as well.
help w fishless cycle
- Thread starter bigtoeknee
- Start date
temp is 78 - 79 I did 2 water changes to bring dowm amm. from 5-6ppm to 3-4 ppm no nitrates either, no filter cleanings.
Just let the ammonia stay there. Don't do any water changes. Leave it for another week. If it doesnt change we may have to look deeper.
Day 12-- ph 7.5 ammonia 4-5 ppm nitrite 0 ppm nitrate10ppm (same as my tap water)
no ammonia added since my levels a still 4-5ppm
no ammonia added since my levels a still 4-5ppm
Open up and take a look at your filter pad. Smell it. What colour is it, does it smell like ammonia, or soil, or something else? What kind of de chlor are you using? Where do you live? Maybe some chemical is killing off the bacteria faster than it can grow.
my filter pads dont smell like amm. pretty plain smellin Im usingStart Right by jungle which removes Chlorine & Chloramine also says it neutralizes heavy metals stimulates slime coat adds electrolytes. I live in NY on long island where we have good water. (The color of the pads are off white not very dirty at all) Im thinking of adding some flake food to the tank to see I get any difference in my readings
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