Dr Tim's fishless test help

[W Haymaker]

I'm at day 3 and working on my patience! I may have learned something a bit late. I used API test and noticed the ammonia test darkens over several minutes so may have over dosed today before waiting out the test. Dosed ammonia over lunch and just tested now out of curiosity. No nitrate it appears. Just sit tight?

 

[WWIII]

Wow that's a lot of ammonia! Yes sit tight and keep testing ammonia only for awhile till it comes down. I assume you're using the bacteria from dr tims as well? If it doesn't come down you may have to do a waterchange, but just wait for now.

 

[W Haymaker]

Wow that's a lot of ammonia! Yes sit tight and keep testing ammonia only for awhile till it comes down. I assume you're using the bacteria from dr tims as well?

Yes. Way way high. Using Dr Tim's bacteria.

 

[WWIII]

Yes. Way way high. Using Dr Tim's bacteria.

Ok I'm not sure if it will do it's thing or not, but definitely don't dose any more ammonia. Give it a few days or so and see if it comes down any.

 

[Samina]

Oh that is high! Yea I would suggest to give it a few days. More than likely, you may have to do a water change or a few. I think Dr. Tim’s needs the ammonia level to be much lower in order for the cycle to not stall. At really high concentrations, nitrifying bacteria can become inhibited in growth. What is your pH like?

 

[W Haymaker]

Oh that is high! Yea I would suggest to give it a few days. More than likely, you may have to do a water change or a few. I think Dr. Tim’s needs the ammonia level to be much lower in order for the cycle to not stall. At really high concentrations, nitrifying bacteria can become inhibited in growth. What is your pH like?

pH was right at 8.

 

[SurfLife]

I used this process a year ago. I remember there was something about the new bottles of bacteria requiring much larger doses but the bottle I had was dated before that change. Did you dose that higher amount? Also, my ammonia never got nearly that high.

Also, it took mine longer than 3 days to start showing nitrates and if you did overdose it will probably take a bit longer now. Be patient, the product does work. I have 3 tanks running that were started that way.

 

[W Haymaker]

I used this process a year ago. I remember there was something about the new bottles of bacteria requiring much larger doses but the bottle I had was dated before that change. Did you dose that higher amount? Also, my ammonia never got nearly that high.

Also, it took mine longer than 3 days to start showing nitrates and if you did overdose it will probably take a bit longer now. Be patient, the product does work. I have 3 tanks running that were started that way.

Yes, it's now 4 drops per gallon. I believe it was previously 1. I ball parked for rock and substrate. I know I dosed too much but surprised by how much. Rookies. Might a do some water change so I don't overburden the bacteria.

 

[SurfLife]

Yes, it's now 4 drops per gallon. I believe it was previously 1. I ball parked for rock and substrate. I know I dosed too much but surprised by how much. Rookies. Might a do some water change so I don't overburden the bacteria.

Yes, that's it. Personally I would empty the tank, refill and do 1 drop per gallon. I think it will end up being a lot faster to cycle and have less headaches. I think you may have an older bottle and you dosed 4x the recommended. How many gallons are we talking about anyway(unless I missed it)?

I am too new to this hobby so I want to be careful recommending anything. I am only giving my opinion as to how I would handle it.


EDIT: Just noticed something. You mention no nitrates are showing yet but in that picture you are showing nitrItes(light blue color). The nitrites are something you should be watching, I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the difference.

 

[W Haymaker]

Yes, that's it. Personally I would empty the tank, refill and do 1 drop per gallon. I think it will end up being a lot faster to cycle and have less headaches. I think you may have an older bottle and you dosed 4x the recommended. How many gallons are we talking about anyway(unless I missed it)?

I am too new to this hobby so I want to be careful recommending anything. I am only giving my opinion as to how I would handle it.


EDIT: Just noticed something. You mention no nitrates are showing yet but in that picture you are showing nitrItes(light blue color). The nitrites are something you should be watching, I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the difference.

Probably mis-dosed big time I agree. This is 24g and assumed about 23g of water. Could have been 50g and I'm still in trouble! I have 5g mixing now and will get more going later. Ordered some odds and ends from BRS so ordered more Dr Tims just in case. Thankfully I can laugh at myself.

 

[W Haymaker]

Much much better after 9.5g water change. Color I think is more between 2 and 4 now so hopefully the bacteria still okay.

 

[Reef man 89]

I would just leave it and let it do its thing. I cycled my tank with ace hardware pure ammoina and i dosed way to much because of how strong it is. My api test for ammoina was almost black that's how much was in there. So instead of doing a w/c I just left it. It took about a week to start seeing nitrates. But in that week it of waiting it help me to ge patient.

 

[Brew12]

Nitrifying bacteria should be just fine as long as ammonia is under 10ppm. The only issue I expect you to see is that the ammonia processing will slow down as the ammonia level drops. When ammonia is over 2ppm, different strains of bacteria are more efficient at processing it than when ammonia is under 2ppm. So, when you get around 1ppm expect things to slow. No harm done though.
Other than a little stress the only real issue you will have caused is having more nitrates at the end of your cycle.

Be patient and good luck!

 

[bdejong1112o]

Agree with just waiting. I also used Dr Tims and amonium chloride. I over dosed as well but just let it go. It all takes time. Everything takes time. Tank finally cycled and I honestly dont think it took any longer than it would have if i dosed it lower.

Once they take off and start converting you will end up with some high nitrate levels. However, those too will go away, just takes time. I used that time to get my fiah list squared away, coral list squared away and also get everything else ready including my self and my patience.

So let it be and let the process complete. Bacteria need time to grow.

 

[Jeepguy242]

Why all the cycling witchcraft now.

Doesn’t anybody use the old tried and true method of throwing some fish food or a table shrimp in the tank anymore?

Worked for years. Not good enough now?

 

[Brew12]

Why all the cycling witchcraft now.

Doesn’t anybody use the old tried and true method of throwing some fish food or a table shrimp in the tank anymore?

Worked for years. Not good enough now?

It still works just as good now as it ever did in the past. I would even go so far as to say that using a table shrimp has some advantages in that it adds some bacterial variety to the party.

I personally like this form of "witchcraft" because instead of guessing and hoping that the tank is ready we can use measurements to prove the tank is ready.

Just like so many things in this hobby, lots of different opinions and methods to achieve an end result. Some of them even work.

 

[SurfLife]

Much much better after 9.5g water change. Color I think is more between 2 and 4 now so hopefully the bacteria still okay.

Great. I agree with the posts above. At this point just let it run its course. You will be fine.

 

[W Haymaker]

Calling it 2 ppm but appears upper 1s. Some nitrite increase too but under .25 yet. Appreciate everyone talking me off the ledge. Now I can focus 100 percent on the Vikes winning tonight!

 

[SurfLife]

Calling it 2 ppm but appears upper 1s. Some nitrite increase too but under .25 yet. Appreciate everyone talking me off the ledge. Now I can focus 100 percent on the Vikes winning tonight!

Looks good. Be sure to check the NitrAtes soon as they should eventually start going up.

 

[W Haymaker]

You are correct. Started to see nitrates as well now. Nitrites continue to increase and ammonia continues to decrease. So far appears to be on track.

It got me thinking ahead a bit. I went WELL over parameters for a fishless cycle so is there ever a need to feed ammonia a second time (once my parameters back down) or would you consider this one cycled once it backs down on ammonia and nitrites?