Conflicting Ammonia Results

[Dan_P]

I am using Dr. Tim's. My tank is bare bottom/dry rock so a longer cycle is what I anticipated. Is 14 days still too long for bb/dryrock?

For Biospira with nothing but Instant Ocean, 0.5 ppm NH4+ is consumed in about 24 hr. If I knew how to search this sight efficiently, it would be informative to see if there is a tendency in posts about slow cycling to be associated with Dr. Tim’s.

Anyway, 14 days seems unusually long to drive total ammonia to zero.

 

[huntersrain]

I am cycling my tank and I’m on day 14. My seachem reads 0.05ppm ammonia but my API reads 1.5ppm. What should I believe?

The API ammonia kits are notorious for reading high, I had the same problem when I first got into reefing, I suggest buying a different ammonia kit that will give you a more accurate reading!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you!

You’re welcome.

Happy Reefing!

 

[sixty_reefer]

For Biospira with nothing but Instant Ocean, 0.5 ppm NH4+ is consumed in about 24 hr. If I knew how to search this sight efficiently, it would be informative to see if there is a tendency in posts about slow cycling to be associated with Dr. Tim’s.

Anyway, 14 days seems unusually long to drive total ammonia to zero.

The op used 5 drops per gallon which makes a concentration of 5.25 ppm initial dose. Dr.Tim’s advices to not to go over the concentration of 5ppm. Am not sure on what is the reason but the overdosed in ammonia could cause some bad effect on the bacteria.

 

[RoseQuatics]

The op used 5 drops per gallon which makes a concentration of 5.25 ppm initial dose. Dr.Tim’s advices to not to go over the concentration of 5ppm. Am not sure on what is the reason but the overdosed in ammonia could cause some bad effect on the bacteria.

4 drops per gallon which followed the Ammonia Chloride instructions. I tested the ammonia day 1 and it was at 2ppm. Let's say hypothetically I did get the ammonia to 5ppm what happens? Bacteria die? Cycle stalled? According to my most recent results ammonia is at roughly 1ppm so the bacteria are indeed consuming the ammonia so I don't think the cycle has stalled completely - I just think my tank was very sterile to begin with and it simple takes more time than cycling with live rock/live sand.

 

[brandon429]

RoseQ

Remember two different modes of cycling exist

they carry the same intended start bioload, regardless of what method is chosen. you are not required to wait out the full timeframe for wastewater and all its variables to clear, that's the old way. it's an option, but it's the old way and isn't required.

Option one: allow mixed wastewater to fully degrade, wait weeks for an open- ended ready date to arrive

option two: use the exact start date option cycle controllers use which carries the same # of fish as option one…go a few days past the ammonia drop date on a cycling chart. Change out the water, and the system will be cycled leaving a fully working bioslick filter base behind... you can opt out of waiting for wastewater to process (into algae fuel) internally. the prior link shows a tank in a claimed overdose stall stocked with life after one water change.

 

[Dan_P]

The op used 5 drops per gallon which makes a concentration of 5.25 ppm initial dose. Dr.Tim’s advices to not to go over the concentration of 5ppm. Am not sure on what is the reason but the overdosed in ammonia could cause some bad effect on the bacteria.

I would say 5 vs 5.25 is a minimal difference we can ignore. I favor the explanation that the bottled bacteria is the problem. This is not the first time Dr. Tim’s bacteria is associated with a slow cycling process on this forum.

 

[sixty_reefer]

4 drops per gallon which followed the Ammonia Chloride instructions. I tested the ammonia day 1 and it was at 2ppm. Let's say hypothetically I did get the ammonia to 5ppm what happens? Bacteria die? Cycle stalled? According to my most recent results ammonia is at roughly 1ppm so the bacteria are indeed consuming the ammonia so I don't think the cycle has stalled completely - I just think my tank was very sterile to begin with and it simple takes more time than cycling with live rock/live sand.

You mentioned earlier that you have a 120 and dosed enough for a 150 that’s 120 drops different making a overhaul 5 drops per gallon. Me and some other tested that 4 drops of dr.Tim’s comes to a concentration of 4.2 per 4 drops per gallon. Am not sure if the effects although dr.Tim’s pdf says not to exceed ppm

 

[sixty_reefer]

I would say 5 vs 5.25 is a minimal difference we can ignore. I favor the explanation that the bottled bacteria is the problem. This is not the first time Dr. Tim’s bacteria is associated with a slow cycling process on this forum.

I’m just going from dr.Tim’s pdf that mentioned not to exceed a 5ppm concentration, must be a reason why that am not aware at the moment

 

[RoseQuatics]

You mentioned earlier that you have a 120 and dosed enough for a 150 that’s 120 drops different making a overhaul 5 drops per gallon. Me and some other tested that 4 drops of dr.Tim’s comes to a concentration of 4.2 per 4 drops per gallon. Am not sure if the effects although dr.Tim’s pdf says not to exceed ppm

My dosing to 150 gallons was referencing Dr. Tim's bacteria not Ammonia Chloride.

 

[sixty_reefer]

My dosing to 150 gallons was referencing Dr. Tim's bacteria not Ammonia Chloride.

My bad I thought it was related to the dr.Tim’s ammonia, must of read it wrong

 

[RoseQuatics]

My bad I thought it was related to the dr.Tim’s ammonia, must of read it wrong

All good.