Cycling Help

[_cpate3_]

Hello, I am a newbie and just set up my first tank it is a Fluval 13.5 nano. I put turbo start and ammonia to start, added a little extra bacteria, I have a ton of matrix bio rocks in the filter and a good 1.5” of sand. My ammonia is just not dropping and it has been about 4 days now and I am starting to get worried. I have tested each parameter and I’m not sure exactly what they are (I’m a bad color guesser) and need help knowing if my tank is cycling or should I start over?

 

[19Mateo83]

It appears you have nitrite and nitrate, that means the nitrogen cycle is working. How much ammonia did you add?

 

[_cpate3_]

It appears you have nitrite and nitrate, that means the nitrogen cycle is working. How much ammonia did you add?

I did whatever the Dr Tims bottle said so 4 drops per gallon? which would've been about 2ppm

 

[_cpate3_]

It appears you have nitrite and nitrate, that means the nitrogen cycle is working. How much ammonia did you add?

I also messed up and made my own saltwater with tap water and prime conditioner because no LFS around me would sell saltwater...

 

[Propane]

If it’s only been 4 days you just gotta wait. I would also invest in a RODI system. Tap water can cause all kinds of problems.

 

[19Mateo83]

If it’s only been 4 days you just gotta wait. I would also invest in a RODI system. Tap water can cause all kinds of problems.

Agreed.

You can also buy distilled water from the grocery store.

 

[Propane]

Agreed.

You can also buy distilled water from the grocery store.

Good thinking on that. Lots of grocery stores have pretty decent filtered water that you can get for 50 cents a gallon.

 

[TripFamAZ]

Check with @brandon429 he is the cycling king!

 

[Par Ohmsford]

As long as you have nitrite and nitrate you just have to be patient. When I cycled my nano my ammonia stayed high for almost a week, but then 1 day it just suddenly went to 0. Don't sweat it, just hang in there a bit longer.