Long cycle: take 2

grace

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Nov 27, 2002
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Quite a while ago I posted about a six gallon that was taking a long time to cycle. I can't find the thread, but I wanted to update and see if anyone had any thoughts.

Ok...I started 2/24 and kept the NH3 between 2 and 4ppm - I admit I wasn't very good about this and quite often let it slip to 1ppm. :rolleyes: I was adding 2-3 tablespoons of NH3 a day and actually having a hard time keeping it at 2-3ppm:confused:

About mid-April I was adding 2-3 tablespoons and it was only reading 1ppm. All this time with no NO2. Soooo....now it's the end of April and I'm only adding 1/2 to 1 tblsp. of NH3 thinking that I have overloaded the bacteria.

Other specs: using a seeded sponge filter, pH off the chart high and no NO3 (checked it for grins and giggles :rolleyes: )

So, now that I have supplied a better rundown of what I have done; what are the thoughts of everyone?? Lack of consistency? Not enough NH3? Too much??

Maybe the best thing is to start over?
 
I had the same problem once and it was ALLLLLLLLL with the chemicals the LFS told me to use. Junkie and crappie WARDLY CHLOR OUT and the worst thing ever to use while cycling AMMO LOCK...

(I hate crooked LFS) :mad:
 
Well... anytime something like this happens... all you need to do is check for high Nitrates... if you have High Nitrates... stop... do a couple of water changes, then add your fish.

See my Fishless Cycling Shortcut thread in this forum.
 
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