Stuck on what to do? Fishless Cycling

PattyCakes81

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Jun 26, 2010
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Patricia
My ammonia went from 2ppm to 0.25ppm in 7 hours. I know this is a good thing. :D Means the BB is doing its job. Do I dose back up now or wait 24 hours? Doing fishless cycling.
8:34am:
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3:37am:
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Any advice and tips will be greatly appreciated! :-)


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Wait 24 hours. You're too impatient. :headshake2:
 
Wait 24 hours. You're too impatient. :headshake2:

Lol:D Okay I'll wait 24 hours. But I your not suppose to let the Ammonia get lower than 1ppm while fishless cycling?

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Lol:D Okay I'll wait 24 hours. But I thought your not suppose to let the Ammonia get lower than 1ppm while fishless cycling?

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Patty, whatever you're doing, you're doing it right. Look at your nitrite readings. They're only 0.25ppm and your nitrates are high, just where you want them. All the while, the ammonia is getting consumed. It's perfect.

I see SOOO many opinions on fishless cycling it's crazy. One size does not fill all when attempting a fishless cycle. Everyones tank is going to be different, water is different, tank contents, etc.....

IMO (and again.. an OPINION).. you have absolutely no need to dose your ammonia any higher than 1ppm. I know for me, keeping ammo at ~4ppm (per all the "instructions") caused so many nitrites in my 10 and 29gal, the cycle stalled. Trying to bring the over-range high nitrites down to a readable level takes a crazy amount of water changes. Like several 90% water changes!!

At this point, I'd do water changes to get your nitrates down to 10ppm or so, see if your ammo and nitrites follow suite and go to 0,0 then start stocking your tank as you wish!

Joel
 
Cycling, fishless or otherwise, can take weeks. You can add bacteria to speed up the process but 24 hours is too short of a time frame.

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I have been cycling since January 16th.

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Patty, whatever you're doing, you're doing it right. Look at your nitrite readings. They're only 0.25ppm and your nitrates are high, just where you want them. All the while, the ammonia is getting consumed. It's perfect.

I see SOOO many opinions on fishless cycling it's crazy. One size does not fill all when attempting a fishless cycle. Everyones tank is going to be different, water is different, tank contents, etc.....

IMO (and again.. an OPINION).. you have absolutely no need to dose your ammonia any higher than 1ppm. I know for me, keeping ammo at ~4ppm (per all the "instructions") caused so many nitrites in my 10 and 29gal, the cycle stalled. Trying to bring the over-range high nitrites down to a readable level takes a crazy amount of water changes. Like several 90% water changes!!

At this point, I'd do water changes to get your nitrates down to 10ppm or so, see if your ammo and nitrites follow suite and go to 0,0 then start stocking your tank as you wish!

Joel

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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Last edited:
Test tomorrow. If you've got 0,0, and still some nitrates, do a 75% water change and go buy fish.

Have fun shopping.

Thanks The V.

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