Fishless Cycle- No progress tank just sitting there.

iNTEL · Oct 12, 2023

Hello All,

Hope all is well. I just started a nano reef WB 10g. I am on Day 4 of using Dr Tims One and Only. Day 1 I added the Ammonia, before that I added the One and Only bacteria. Day 2, 3 and 4 all the tested parameters are the same. Ammonia is 2 ppm, Nitrite is 0 ppm, and PH is 7.8. Water temp is 79. I thought I would have seen some changes in these levels by now but all are still the same. Not sure how to proceed from this point? Any help and suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Cheers.

Anemone_Fanatic · Oct 12, 2023

Don't expect much in the first week unless you've added a bunch of good live rock. Some people have luck with instant cycles using bottled products, I've always found that you get the best results with 2 + weeks of water. I'll probably get flamed for this, but I wouldn't depend on a rapid cycle with bottled products, even Dr. Tim's.

Stevorino · Oct 12, 2023

Anemone_Fanatic said:
Don't expect much in the first week unless you've added a bunch of good live rock. Some people have luck with instant cycles using bottled products, I've always found that you get the best results with 2 + weeks of water. I'll probably get flamed for this, but I wouldn't depend on a rapid cycle with bottled products, even Dr. Tim's.

Agree with all of this and cycled a tank this spring with Dr Tims.

It took a minute to get going but was very good in the long run.

Tip to OP: Lights off or low as long as you can stand it. Give this stuff a chance to go before algae.

iNTEL · Oct 12, 2023

Anemone_Fanatic said:
Don't expect much in the first week unless you've added a bunch of good live rock. Some people have luck with instant cycles using bottled products, I've always found that you get the best results with 2 + weeks of water. I'll probably get flamed for this, but I wouldn't depend on a rapid cycle with bottled products, even Dr. Tim's.

Understand...Thanks for the suggestion. Certainly appreciate.

I think I will sit tight see what happens in the upcoming days/weeks.

iNTEL · Oct 12, 2023

Stevorino said:
Agree with all of this and cycled a tank this spring with Dr Tims.

It took a minute to get going but was very good in the long run.

Tip to OP: Lights off or low as long as you can stand it. Give this stuff a chance to go before algae.T

Thanks for the suggestion. I did have the lights running. Thank you!!!

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Oct 12, 2023

iNTEL said:
Understand...Thanks for the suggestion. Certainly appreciate. I think I will sit tight see what happens in the upcoming days/weeks.

My suggestion, get a bottle of Fritz Turbo Start and add to the tank. IME Dr. Tims is often no better than not adding anything...

Spare time · Oct 12, 2023

Dr. Tims can take a while. Try raising the temp to 81-82F or so or just adding some biospira (or fritz turbo). You may have also gotten a dead bottle (another reason why I don't like Dr Tim's as this doesn't happen with ones like biospira)

brclark82 · Oct 12, 2023

Go dump a bottle of Fritz TurboStart 900 in and you can buy fish this weekend, Dr Tim’s does very little of anything

iNTEL · Oct 13, 2023

Fritz TurboStart 900 it is!!! Should be here tom. Thanks all. Cheers. Have a great weekend. Will keep you posted.

Gumbies R Us · Oct 13, 2023

iNTEL said:
Fritz TurboStart 900 it is!!! Should be here tom. Thanks all. Cheers. Have a great weekend. Will keep you posted.

Best of luck on the cycle!

Debramb · Oct 13, 2023

iNTEL said:
Fritz TurboStart 900 it is!!! Should be here tom. Thanks all. Cheers. Have a great weekend. Will keep you posted.

Welcome to your reef journey!

iNTEL · Oct 18, 2023

Good afternoon all,

Hope all is well... So finally as of Sunday I started to see some movement in the cycle. As of today ammonia is zero or close to it, however nitrites been pretty high since Sunday. Should I be of any concern at the point or let it ride? I know its a waiting process and I have the patience lol. Please see attachment of my water result from this morning.

Cheers Have a pleasant day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 18, 2023

iNTEL said:
Good afternoon all,

Hope all is well... So finally as of Sunday I started to see some movement in the cycle. As of today ammonia is zero or close to it, however nitrites been pretty high since Sunday. Should I be of any concern at the point or let it ride? I know its a waiting process and I have the patience lol. Please see attachment of my water result from this morning.

Cheers Have a pleasant day.

The nitrite is not a concern. Waiting is fine, or proceeding is fine.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Oct 18, 2023

iNTEL said:
Good afternoon all,

Hope all is well... So finally as of Sunday I started to see some movement in the cycle. As of today ammonia is zero or close to it, however nitrites been pretty high since Sunday. Should I be of any concern at the point or let it ride? I know its a waiting process and I have the patience lol. Please see attachment of my water result from this morning.

Cheers Have a pleasant day.

Where are trates?