Need advise from someone smarter than I am...

SeaNote · 04-03-2010, 09:06 AM

This is week 6 of the fishless cycle of my 60-gallon. About 10 days ago, my Ammonia levels went to 0 and my NitrItes went to 1. I was thinking that my cycle was only days away from completion. 10 days later, I still have the same readings (Ammonia=0, NitrIte=1, NitrAte=10). I am using API test kits.

Any ideas on how to get this thing to finish its cycle? I'm ready for some swimmy things in the tank.

Thanks a lot, folks!

choylifutsoccer · 04-03-2010, 01:36 PM

You just gotta be patient I guess. Are your nitrates increasing? How much ammonia do you add (what is the ppm reading)? As long as you keep adding ammonia, your tank will finish cycling sooner or later.

NursePlaty · 04-03-2010, 06:03 PM

Are you using the strips or the liquid tests? Strips are very very inaccurate. I agree with choy that I think its the ammonia problem :p. It seems like you dont add enough ammonia during ur cycle. Because your nitrAte readings are low. Did you keep the ppm reading of your ammonia at 5ppm throughout the cycle? After a fishless cycle, the nitrAte reading will be very very high because of all the ammonia and the nitrIte that was broken down. It seems like either you did water changes during your cycle or you never added enough ammonia. You need to keep adding ammonia to keep the ppm at 5 through the cycle until you hit a nitrIte spike then you slow down on the ammonia drops.

Tell us how you did your fishless cycle, like how much ammonia you added this day and that day and etc so we might find out where you messed up.

SeaNote · 04-03-2010, 06:37 PM

Ding, Ding, Ding - I think you've got it. I think I slowed down my ammonia additions too soon. My ammonia was at 2 pretty consistently throughout, until I saw the NitrIte spike. When I saw my ammonia at 0, I assumed the cycle was just a day or two from completion. I think I may have pulled back on the ammonia too much. My NitrAtes never got above 10. I'll correct that situation immediately. Thanks so much.

BTW - I am using the liquid version of the API tests.

NursePlaty · 04-03-2010, 07:02 PM

No problem, try raising the ppm of the ammonia higher on your next cycle, it will speed up the process of the bacteria growing along with higher temp and light. Finished fishless cycles usually end up with 80-160 ppm of nitrAte. So therefore thats why they do a large water change at the end of the cycle.

Mr_Pat · 04-13-2010, 02:25 AM

lmao Nurse Platy love the siggy, and a fishless tank cycling ? doesnt that tend to make things take a lot longer ?? I like using feeder guppies to start a tank off .. typically in the end i can use them for other things like feeders for other fish

04-03-2010, 09:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
SeaNote Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need advise from someone smarter than I am... This is week 6 of the fishless cycle of my 60-gallon. About 10 days ago, my Ammonia levels went to 0 and my NitrItes went to 1. I was thinking that my cycle was only days away from completion. 10 days later, I still have the same readings (Ammonia=0, NitrIte=1, NitrAte=10). I am using API test kits. Any ideas on how to get this thing to finish its cycle? I'm ready for some swimmy things in the tank. Thanks a lot, folks! __________________ "...the United States came into existence as a nation; and, if their citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own." - George Washington

04-03-2010, 01:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
choylifutsoccer Inspired. Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 138 Name: Ryan Location: San Francisco, CA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 32 Times Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Need advise from someone smarter than I am... You just gotta be patient I guess. Are your nitrates increasing? How much ammonia do you add (what is the ppm reading)? As long as you keep adding ammonia, your tank will finish cycling sooner or later.

04-03-2010, 06:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 932 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Need advise from someone smarter than I am... Are you using the strips or the liquid tests? Strips are very very inaccurate. I agree with choy that I think its the ammonia problem :p. It seems like you dont add enough ammonia during ur cycle. Because your nitrAte readings are low. Did you keep the ppm reading of your ammonia at 5ppm throughout the cycle? After a fishless cycle, the nitrAte reading will be very very high because of all the ammonia and the nitrIte that was broken down. It seems like either you did water changes during your cycle or you never added enough ammonia. You need to keep adding ammonia to keep the ppm at 5 through the cycle until you hit a nitrIte spike then you slow down on the ammonia drops. Tell us how you did your fishless cycle, like how much ammonia you added this day and that day and etc so we might find out where you messed up. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

04-03-2010, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
SeaNote Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Need advise from someone smarter than I am... Ding, Ding, Ding - I think you've got it. I think I slowed down my ammonia additions too soon. My ammonia was at 2 pretty consistently throughout, until I saw the NitrIte spike. When I saw my ammonia at 0, I assumed the cycle was just a day or two from completion. I think I may have pulled back on the ammonia too much. My NitrAtes never got above 10. I'll correct that situation immediately. Thanks so much. BTW - I am using the liquid version of the API tests. __________________ "...the United States came into existence as a nation; and, if their citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own." - George Washington

04-03-2010, 07:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 932 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Need advise from someone smarter than I am... No problem, try raising the ppm of the ammonia higher on your next cycle, it will speed up the process of the bacteria growing along with higher temp and light. Finished fishless cycles usually end up with 80-160 ppm of nitrAte. So therefore thats why they do a large water change at the end of the cycle. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

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04-13-2010, 02:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mr_Pat Mr_Pat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 243 My location Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Need advise from someone smarter than I am... lmao Nurse Platy love the siggy, and a fishless tank cycling ? doesnt that tend to make things take a lot longer ?? I like using feeder guppies to start a tank off .. typically in the end i can use them for other things like feeders for other fish __________________ MR_Pat 90 Gallon Community Tank Planted , Cherry Shrimp tank planted, 75 Gallon Turtle Tank with an FX5, 195 Gallon Tank home of LiL sis our Reticulated Python

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