Help with Fishless cycle..Amonia keeps going down but...

O

ouiouigirl

AC Members
May 21, 2006
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Fort Lee, NJ
Hi to all,
I started a fishless cycle about 6 weeks ago. It took all that time for the nitrites to start climbing (way high in the deep purple now on the aquarium pharmaceuticals kit). I know I have to wait for the nitrites and amonia to be both zero. every day I test both and everyday my amonia is zero but the nitrites are way high, so I dose amonia to above 3PPM into the tank, test again, get 3PPM on amonia and way high on nitrites...following day, same thing, amonia back to zero.
I'm not sure whether I am on the right track here, I read the article about cycling a tank and it does not really say that the amonia will keep going back to zero all the time.
What should I do?
thanks
 
Ammonia going back to zero is a GOOD thing! This is supposed to happen. It means that your nitrifiers are processing that ammonia. Keep doing what you're doing. At some point (any day now) there will be a point where the nitrite will zero out as well. When the day comes when both ammonia and nitrites go back to zero 24 hours after you add your usual dose of ammonia, you will be cycled.

At this point you'll be seeing nitrates in the tank. Do a big water change to get them below 20 ppm and you'll be ready to go. After this, you'll only have to do water changes once a week--usually 25-30% will be enough to keep nitrates below 20 ppm.
 
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Don't worry, it's not time to put fish in anyway. You gotta be at 0 ammonia/nitrite...

Yes, even when the tank is cycled, keep "feeding" the tank ammonia every day until you're ready for fish. You have to maintain those bacteria you've worked so hard to build. If you starve them, they'll die off. The day before you buy some fish, do a big waterchange so that nitrates are at a safe level.
 
Thanks a lot, feeling better.
Gee I just realized I asked one stupid question after that re: a figure 8 puffer in a community tank...just dawned on me it's a brackish water fish...well duh!
thanks though, I'm patient.
S.
 
i have never done a fishless cycle but from what i have read it seems the greatest advantage is that it takes a much shorter time for your tank to cycle so you can stock heavier, faster. 6 weeks doesnt sound short to me as this is the time quoted to do a fish cycle?
 
If you seed the tank with gravel and filter media from a cycled tank, it will shorten the length of the cycle, the significance depends on how much you seed the tank with. Maybe it's the level of nitrites wich is affecting the bacteria, what is the reading? A water change that won't take out all the nitrite may be in order.
 
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