I started my fishless cycle almost 7 weeks ago. I was reading sky high nitrite with an api test [emoji20](I know). So decided to stop adding ammonia to see if nitrite would catch up. Well almost 2 week later still same reading, so I bought salifert test kits for ammonia and nitrite. My questions are 1) did any of my bacteria die from not feeding any ammonia for 2 weeks and 2) my water is cloudy again is that normal for blooms twice is it due to the bacteria dying? Thanks
Cycle question
- Thread starter RMMKD0
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Nope can go a month or more. However they will not increase without food.
Not sure why your water is cloudy. Not a normal thing that happens when cycling.
IslandLifeReef
Valuable Member
How much ammonia did you add? If you keep adding ammonia before nitrites come down below 6-8 ppm, you have a good chance of stalling your cycle. How high are your nitrites?
My current readings are ammonia 0.25, nitrite 0.2, and nitrate 50/75. All with salifert tests. I did have cloudy water the first couple days when I started my cycle but it since cleared up and my water has been crystal clear until about 3/4 days ago. Like I said, the last 2 weeks nothing has been added to the water so I’m a bit confused what could cause the water to be cloudy again. That’s why I thought maybe bacteria maybe was dying off.
According to Dr. Tim’s quick guide if I add 2ppm ammonia tomorrow and get readings below 0.2 on both ammonia and nitrite Monday I should be cycled and technically could add a fish or cuc. But we will see.
IslandLifeReef
Valuable Member
Ammonia should read 0 ppm before you add fish. You aren't cycled until your tank has 0 ppm ammonia. The cloudy water is most likely a bacterial bloom. The bacteria for the nitrogen cycle will not die off. If your water is getting cloudy, you have something else going on in your tank and you need to wait before adding livestock. Patience is the key to this hobby.
What equipment and media are you running in your tank right now? Are your lights on?
BadFish619
Well-Known Member
Just a heads up my api test kit constantly reads .25 and has since the beginning of time. It reads total ammonia so you will get a slightly false reading. I bought an ammonia alert at one of my local stores. Its cheap and pretty accurate. If you can you should bring your water into your lfs and see if they get the same reading
IslandLifeReef
Valuable Member
Since both test kits were showing ammonia, your tank still needs time. I would trust the salifert kit over the api kit. Your nitrite should also be zero once the tank is cycled, but since nitrite at that level isn't toxic to marine fish, it isn't as important. Just give it some more time and everything will balance out.
bigcheese
Active Member
Hmmm. Sounds like a bacterial bloom. Something I ran into about a year ago cycling a new tank.
If you shut your pumps off for 20-30 minutes, do you notice a white / clear slime on the water surface or around your return pump?
This "white slime" bacteria has a tendency to eat ammonia, and may be out-competing nitrifying bacteria like in my case.
bigcheese
Active Member
I did a writeup on @brandon429 's sand rinse thread.
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?posts/5761887
Long story short: rip, rinse, replace. Since you don't have livestock, no need to be timid here. You'll be much happier with the results later on.
