Barebottom negative space aio 25 gal tank

[EchoStar]

Hey everyone. I started a new tank and I'm already have questions. I started a AIO barebottom negative space 25 gal tank. I have had it up and running for about 4 months now. However. It still cycling. I have added turbostart. Microbactor. And fritz to the tank with out much luck. I am doing an ammonia drip cycle. Ammonia is reading 0 but nitrite are reading 2 or higher. It been 4 months now and I can't seem to get my nitrite to budge. Any ideas.

I added ammonia to it back in January and have notnadded any more since.

 

[Auquanut]

What brand of test set are you using to test nitrites? What is your nitrate reading? Have you noticed any algae growth?

 

[EchoStar]

I dont have lights over it currently so no algae. I'm using API which I know is a cheap horrible kit but I figured it was ok for cycling. Nitrate is at 20. Soni knownit getting there but I just feel like it has stalled out.. the nitrite has not moved from 2 for 3 months now.

 

[mindme]

Hey everyone. I started a new tank and I'm already have questions. I started a AIO barebottom negative space 25 gal tank. I have had it up and running for about 4 months now. However. It still cycling. I have added turbostart. Microbactor. And fritz to the tank with out much luck. I am doing an ammonia drip cycle. Ammonia is reading 0 but nitrite are reading 2 or higher. It been 4 months now and I can't seem to get my nitrite to budge. Any ideas.

I added ammonia to it back in January and have notnadded any more since.

Adding too many bacteria can apparently have a negative effect on the cycle. I don't know how, I just read it on bottles.

For example, on my 180g I used microbacter start XLM. It says specifically not to use it with live sand, rocks that have bacteria added, or it can prevent or stop the cycle. But other microbacters seem to be ok to use later on. I'm not familiar with the others you mentioned here, but mixing them could somehow be causing issues.

 

[EchoStar]

All bacteria was added about a month apart but I didn't know that about adding to much.

 

[Auquanut]

I personally would add your first fish and start running your lights. Maybe ramp them up slowly. The ugly stage is going to happen eventually. Once you start seeing algae, start adding your CUC. I'd also invest in more accurate test sets. Salifert is cost effective and seems to be pretty consistent. I use red sea, but that's just me. I also wouldn't add any more ammonia or bacteria. Let the tank find its happy place.

The initial nitrogen cycle is just the start of the overall cycling process. It can take months or even a year for your ecosystem to reach equilibrium. If that makes any sense.

Just my personal approach, but I hope this helps.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Nitrite bacteria took longer to colonize in my experience to but I added fish , nitrite isn’t toxic to saltwater fish and nitrate means your cycled. Just add some clowns or something hardier first . Water change and good to go

 

[flashsmith]

I used Fritz 9 on all 3 of my systems and added fish and coral within the 1st week. Never had a problem. At least get your lights going and put a cuc in there.

 

[jcolliii]

I really dig your rockwork - looks nice! That will look awesome with coral all over it!

 

[Freenow54]

well with risk of offending aquanut. it seems obvious to me. you have to keep adding ammonia. i do not know what you mean by drip cycle though. I used the fishless method with lights off, and was laughed at when i said took me 2 months