Did I just screw up my tank cycle?

[3rdMoon]

So I finally got my 75 gallon reef tank started up. I’m doing a fishless cycle and after adding the nitrifying bacteria, I went to add the ammonia solution. Unfortunately I didn’t realize the ammonia cap wasn’t screwed on tightly. Easily HALF the bottle of ammonia dumped into the water column. Now it’s testing ammonia levels nearly off the chart. What can I Do? Can I just add more nitrifying bacteria? Is the ammonia gonna poison my substrate? Have I just screwed this whole thing up? I’m kinda freaking out LOL Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Terri Caton]

Take a deep breath. It wouldn't hurt to add some bacteria. Your tank will finish cycling but it probably will take a little longer to get rid of the ammonia. It doesn't stay in the substrate or rocks. Good thing you haven't added any fish yet though!

 

[Wolf89]

Yeah your gonna need to almost completely change the water in that tank

 

[Dvanlier05]

I used Dr. Tim's when cycling my tank and it specifically says not to dose ammonia over 2.0 or it wil cause cycle to stop. Unfortunately you might need to start again, levels may come down but who knows how long that can take.

 

[Reef.]

Just change the water and start again.

 

[3rdMoon]

Take a deep breath. It wouldn't hurt to add some bacteria. Your tank will finish cycling but it probably will take a little longer to get rid of the ammonia. It doesn't stay in the substrate or rocks. Good thing you haven't added any fish yet though!

I know right. I did a fishless cycle for specifically that reason. Why make a living thing suffer for MY stupidity and lack of experience? So can I add too much live bacteria? I don’t wanna OD on Dr Tims.

 

[Reef.]

I know right. I did a fishless cycle for specifically that reason. Why make a living thing suffer for MY stupidity and lack of experience? So can I add too much live bacteria? I don’t wanna OD on Dr Tims.

You can’t OD on bacteria but you need to reduce that ammonia, way too much.

 

[3rdMoon]

I used Dr. Tim's when cycling my tank and it specifically says not to dose ammonia over 2.0 or it wil cause cycle to stop. Unfortunately you might need to start again, levels may come down but who knows how long that can take.

Yeah I used Dr Tim’s also. And it says very clearly not to dose over 2. So can I add another bottle of Dr Tim’s? Is it possible to OD on nitrifying bacteria?

 

[Terri Caton]

I know right. I did a fishless cycle for specifically that reason. Why make a living thing suffer for MY stupidity and lack of experience? So can I add too much live bacteria? I don’t wanna OD on Dr Tims.

I wouldn't do a 100% water change. Then you really are starting over. A tank will literally cycle with just ammonia without adding any bacteria. The OG way Bacteria in a bottle is a new thing.

 

[Silent]

How many ounces do you think you dumped into your 75 g system? Add some microbactor7 and ride it out. Microbactor7 worked faster for me than dr tims did.

 

[3rdMoon]

How many ounces do you think you dumped into your 75 g system? Add some microbactor7 and ride it out. Microbactor7 worked faster for me than dr tims did.

Microbactor7? Great thanks. I assume you can’t OD on live nitrifying bacteria?

 

[Dvanlier05]

Yeah I used Dr Tim’s also. And it says very clearly not to dose over 2. So can I add another bottle of Dr Tim’s? Is it possible to OD on nitrifying bacteria?

You can but if ammonia was testing off the chart, there is probably too much for the bacteria to reproduce and move the cycle along. I know it's not what you want to hear but WC and starting over is best way to go, IMO

 

[Silent]

It might take longer but it will eventually cycle. Depends how fast you need it cycled if you want to do WC. Won't hurt anything to double up the amount of bacteria dose stated on bottle.

 

[fishface NJ]

Remove all the water. You need to start over.

 

[piranhaman00]

Yes definitely need to start over haha not the end of the world! Lesson learned to always check the tops of additives. People overdose stuff all the time in this matter, in your situation there is not death involved

 

[MERKEY]

So I finally got my 75 gallon reef tank started up. I’m doing a fishless cycle and after adding the nitrifying bacteria, I went to add the ammonia solution. Unfortunately I didn’t realize the ammonia cap wasn’t screwed on tightly. Easily HALF the bottle of ammonia dumped into the water column. Now it’s testing ammonia levels nearly off the chart. What can I Do? Can I just add more nitrifying bacteria? Is the ammonia gonna poison my substrate? Have I just screwed this whole thing up? I’m kinda freaking out LOL Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Are you showing any nitrates at all? Or is this within the first day?

 

[lapin]

Ipinion:
I would change out at least 1/2 the water like others said.
It will make it less of a wait.
Save the next bottle of bacteria to start again.
Reagent grade ammonium chloride makes fishless cycling easy and mess-free. Treats up to 300 gallons
You added 1/2 a bottle or 1oz I assume of the 2 oz bottle.
4 drops per gallon aprox in instructions.
For 50 gallons of water you use aprox 200 drops = 0.43 fl oz

 

[Brew12]

It is unlikely you have hurt anything, but I agree with doing a water change. Based on the research I have seen you need to get it below 10ppm although getting it under 5ppm would be much better.

 

[brandon429]

Dr Tim's wrong on three points he's claimed for cycling and we have threads to prove it.

1. Max ammonia allowed. Dr Reefs bac thread tested out to eight ppm.

2. Nitrite stalling a cycle. Has never occurred in reefing. Microbiology of reef tank cycling thread is seventeen pages of testless cycling specifically because none of the params matter, including nitrite. You can't stall a reef cycle, only make it take longer to clear, first answer above is right

3. No nitrifiers are in the water, stated in his cycle talk video. See aquabiomics thread specifically finding nitrifiers in water.

 

[brandon429]

So why not let this thread contribute to new cycle science

Don't add or change anything and simply let the tank sit there for 2 weeks swirling

Then change out 100% of the water dose the ammonia to about half a part per million or one part per million max and check results in 24 hours, post em

This order of ops tests only what's adhered to surfaces

Yours is the highest amount of ammonia I've heard of this will be a great test