Stuck on what to do? Fishless Cycling

[FreshyFresh]

Thanks Joel. I'll try to be more patient.
The weird thing is that my nitrates go up to red but my nitrites barely make it to the last dark purple.


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My point was; You don't need to be patient. You're done! Even at those HIGH doses of ammonia, your nitrites are getting converted to nitrates. That's just what you want. Like V says, check tomorrow, if you're 0ppm,0ppm,80pmm, do a BIG water change and add your fish. Done deal. If it's going to be some time before you can get fish, I'd keep dosing ~1ppm of ammonia every 24hrs just to keep the bacteria fed. You did great.

Joel

 

[THE V]

No need to dose for the bacteria. They are good for six months or so between feedings. When setting up a tank you need to keep ammonia in the tank to keep the bacteria in logarithmic growth phase. Once they are there they don't die easily.

 

[FreshyFresh]

No need to dose for the bacteria. They are good for six months or so between feedings. When setting up a tank you need to keep ammonia in the tank to keep the bacteria in logarithmic growth phase. Once they are there they don't die easily.

No kidding? Good to know.

Most replies you hear on that is the BB will die off quickly if there's nothing providing them with waste/ammonia.

Thanks.

 

[Rbishop]

More of going dormant than die off.....

 

[PattyCakes81]

More of going dormant than die off.....

But do I really want them dormant when I add fish? How about if I put 1ppm ammonia every 24 hours until I will be able to buy fish. Then the night before getting fish do a 90% WC to bring down nitrates below 20ppm, preferably below 10ppm.

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[Rbishop]

It wouls take a while for them to go dormant....

 

[PattyCakes81]

It wouls take a while for them to go dormant....

Oh, okay. Yay zeros and lots of nitrates!

Going to dose back up a few more days to double check that the bacteria converts ammonia>nitrites>nitrates in 24 hours.
Yes baby!



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[Rbishop]

Congrats!

 

[PattyCakes81]

Congrats!

Thank you! Dose tank back up. Now to wait another 24 hours. Fishless cycling has really tested my patience. Hey found out I really have some.

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[Slappy*McFish]

I have a feeling that your cycle has actually been finished for awhile now. When your ammonia repeatedly goes back down to 0 (and nitrites 0) and you have to re-dose again daily, then you are done.
That is why you must wait the 24 hrs (to see if the levels return to 0 and the nitrates increase). If you constantly dose and maintain ammonia levels 1-4 ppm without seeing if they reduce to 0, then you won't know for certain when you are actually finished cycling.