So I thought we were done with our cycling, but now I'm just thinking I maybe tested wrong one day.....I got a 0 ammonia reading O nitrite and very high nitrate level. I wasn't ready to add fish, so I did a 50% water change to get the nitrates down a little (to make my later change lesser...) and added some ammonia to dose it back up to 2-3 ppm. THAT WAS FIVE DAYS AGO. The ammonia is STILL at 2 ppm. Hasn't BUDGED. What's going on???? I still have 0 nitrites and 20-40 nitrates as expected but since I dosed the tank I haven't seen ANY change in the ammonia. I'm so irritated. What's going on?
It's the ammonia....
- Thread starter mirasmom
- Start date
I have always wondered about providing a constant supply of ammonia during a fishless cycle to keep the bacteria fed. If the ammonia drops to zero for an extended period of time, wouldn't the bacteria die? Then a large dose of ammonia would provide additional food, but the bacteria colony would have to grow to consume it. I would think the key is to maintain some ammonia until right before you add fish. This would keep a large bacteria colony when it is needed the most (when the fish are added).
Someone help, cuz I have always done a fishy cycle. Hats off to those with the patience for fishless. I use a ton of water when I am starting a tank.
Someone help, cuz I have always done a fishy cycle. Hats off to those with the patience for fishless. I use a ton of water when I am starting a tank.
But my ammonia NEVER drops. It's only been 0 ONCE in my cycle. I have only had to add it ONE TIME and that was 5 days ago- and it sits STILL where it is now. What is going on??? Why are my nitrites 0 (already had a huge spike, watched them fall to 0) but nothing seems to feed of my ammonia?
I have always had sucess with the fishy cycle. It takes a lot of water changes to keep from stressing the fish. I use feeder goldfish and return them when I buy the new fish. I have heard of fishless cycles taking 4 weeks to complete. do you have old media to jump start the cycle?
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
ok mirasmom, from what i can gather from your posts:
- you have dosed ammonia once in this tank, 5 days ago.
- prior to 5 days ago you had zero ammonia and zero nitrites, and high nitrates.
- prior to that you had high nitrites, zero ammonia, and zero nitrates.
how long has this tank been set up? you are using a liquid kit (like API's?)? you've followed the test instructions exactly each time? how old is your test kit? you are using dechlorinator with water changes while the tank cycles?
if i was in your boots, i'd answer those few questions then i'd check your tapwater for nitrites and nitrates.
- you have dosed ammonia once in this tank, 5 days ago.
- prior to 5 days ago you had zero ammonia and zero nitrites, and high nitrates.
- prior to that you had high nitrites, zero ammonia, and zero nitrates.
how long has this tank been set up? you are using a liquid kit (like API's?)? you've followed the test instructions exactly each time? how old is your test kit? you are using dechlorinator with water changes while the tank cycles?
if i was in your boots, i'd answer those few questions then i'd check your tapwater for nitrites and nitrates.
BettaFishMommy - :iagree:
Have you tested the ammonia level of the the water that you are using for your water changes? I have a similar problem with my tank, and recently discovered that my tap water has 1.0 ppm ammonia and Nitrates at 10-20ppm! I've recently been cutting it with my local grocery store brand Spring Water which has no ammonia (or Nitrates) when I do my water changes.
Have you tested the ammonia level of the the water that you are using for your water changes? I have a similar problem with my tank, and recently discovered that my tap water has 1.0 ppm ammonia and Nitrates at 10-20ppm! I've recently been cutting it with my local grocery store brand Spring Water which has no ammonia (or Nitrates) when I do my water changes.
The other thing to check for is your pH. It is very typical in fishless cycling to have the pH drop to 7 or below and this will slow or stop the process because the ammonia with be in the form of ammonium which the bacteria do not use.
You do not have to add ammonia everyday - bacteria are not human. They do not have to be feed everyday to survive. The more important thing is to keep the ammonia and nitrite below 5 ppm while cycling.
mirasmom - how long has the tank been up? Did you add old gravel or a bacterial product?
You do not have to add ammonia everyday - bacteria are not human. They do not have to be feed everyday to survive. The more important thing is to keep the ammonia and nitrite below 5 ppm while cycling.
mirasmom - how long has the tank been up? Did you add old gravel or a bacterial product?
That is good advice Doc, I had a similar bacteria "work slowdown" when my PH was under 7.0 and my KH was under 3*. Very soft slightly acidic water was not good for the cycle. In my case it was a slight nitrite reading that would not go away as well as a slight ammonia reading. Less than .25 for both but nagging just the same. Raised the KH and PH just a bit and the readings returned to normal in short order.
I have had people look at me like I was crazy when I have brought it up, nice to have some confirmation from a pro.
I have had people look at me like I was crazy when I have brought it up, nice to have some confirmation from a pro.
NO NO....Ok here's the deal- the tank has been set up for 5 weeks. Ammonia was dosed 5 weeks ago to 4. I did add bacteria in the form of gravel from another tank when it was started up. Since I dosed the ammonia the first time, it NEVER changed. Ever. then one day it I THOUGHT it was 0. but like I said, I'm wondering if I just mistested since it was so early before work... I redosed it (because I wasn't ready for fish and wanted to keep feeding the bacteria) to 2 (I thought) but when I tested the next day it was probably 4, so I did a water change to get it back to around 2...and it has been there since. NO CHANGE.
The first time it EVER DROPPED was 5 days ago. Before that- I had a huge nitrite spike, it lasted days, it dropped back to 0 after added Tetra Safe Start with the nitrAtes spiking as that happened as would be expected. So it would appear that THAT part of the cycle is complete....correct???
My ph is 7.6-8 and has always been. I use the API liquid master kit. The temp is mid 80's. I have added 2 bottles of Tetra Safe Start at different times. That is when the nitrite spike ended and dropped to 0. I use ACE brand Ammonia. The thing is, nothing ever seems to eat the ammonia. When I put it in, it stays. Always. Why does it seem I have bacteria to eat the nitrites but not the ammonia? I don't get it.
I have only added ammonia TWO TIMES in this cycle- once at the beginning, once when I thought it was 0. Did the safe start trash my cycle? This is getting REALLY old....I could probably deal with it as long as the ammonia would CHANGE at times, but it never does. I do use prime when I add water.
YES I have tested my tap water. There is 1 ppm of ammonia in the water. Nothing else.
The first time it EVER DROPPED was 5 days ago. Before that- I had a huge nitrite spike, it lasted days, it dropped back to 0 after added Tetra Safe Start with the nitrAtes spiking as that happened as would be expected. So it would appear that THAT part of the cycle is complete....correct???
My ph is 7.6-8 and has always been. I use the API liquid master kit. The temp is mid 80's. I have added 2 bottles of Tetra Safe Start at different times. That is when the nitrite spike ended and dropped to 0. I use ACE brand Ammonia. The thing is, nothing ever seems to eat the ammonia. When I put it in, it stays. Always. Why does it seem I have bacteria to eat the nitrites but not the ammonia? I don't get it.
I have only added ammonia TWO TIMES in this cycle- once at the beginning, once when I thought it was 0. Did the safe start trash my cycle? This is getting REALLY old....I could probably deal with it as long as the ammonia would CHANGE at times, but it never does. I do use prime when I add water.
YES I have tested my tap water. There is 1 ppm of ammonia in the water. Nothing else.