Fishless cycle

[Notty74]

Hi everyone,
I know everyone will be bored of the fish-less cycling questions and I sincerely apologise in advance.
I have a 300L tank. I’ve been setting up since July. I have the aqua scape in place, made from dry rock. The sand is in place and the saltwater has been added. The salinity is perfect.
I decided to do the dr Tim’s cycle and added the bacteria as required and then the ammonia cycle. It’s been three weeks and the ammonia level hasn’t gone down. If I’m honest it’s off the chart. I spoke with a shop and they said to add Pure Reef Balance balls. Which I have done. The ammonia level is still too high.
Could someone tell me what I’m missing or if I should add an alternative bacteria like Fritz Turbo please.

Thank you all for your time

 

[Lavey29]

What test kits are you using? What is the ammonia level? Did you check for nitrates? Add nitrifying bacteria.

 

[Notty74]

What test kits are you using? What is the ammonia level? Did you check for nitrates? Add nitrifying bacteria.

I’m using the red sea marine care test kit. The ammonia is darker in colour than 2 at present. Nitrites are at zero.

 

[Lavey29]

Nitrites are irrelevant in reefing. It's only nitrates and ammonia that need testing during cycling. Unless you really overdosed the ammonia during start up I'm not sure how it got that high but you may want a second test opinion at your LFS. Dose nitrifying bacteria to bring it down and promote nitrates production.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Notty74]

Nitrites are irrelevant in reefing. It's only nitrates and ammonia that need testing during cycling. Unless you really overdosed the ammonia during start up I'm not sure how it got that high but you may want a second test opinion at your LFS. Dose nitrifying bacteria to bring it down and promote nitrates production.

Should I do a large water change? Or does that defeat the object? Or just add nitrifying bacteria? Any you recommend. I appreciate your help.

 

[CoralB]

Welcome!!

 

[Lavey29]

Should I do a large water change? Or does that defeat the object? Or just add nitrifying bacteria? Any you recommend. I appreciate your help.

Since you have no live stock it's fine to hold off the water change. Add some good nitrifying bacteria and see where you are after 24 hours. You should show measurable nitrates then.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone,
I know everyone will be bored of the fish-less cycling questions and I sincerely apologise in advance.
I have a 300L tank. I’ve been setting up since July. I have the aqua scape in place, made from dry rock. The sand is in place and the saltwater has been added. The salinity is perfect.
I decided to do the dr Tim’s cycle and added the bacteria as required and then the ammonia cycle. It’s been three weeks and the ammonia level hasn’t gone down. If I’m honest it’s off the chart. I spoke with a shop and they said to add Pure Reef Balance balls. Which I have done. The ammonia level is still too high.
Could someone tell me what I’m missing or if I should add an alternative bacteria like Fritz Turbo please.

Thank you all for your time

If you added ammonia Chloride, you should have/would have seen ammonia rise then fall. When the ammonia is zero and nitrate 20 or below also for 5 days steady - You are cycled. Fritz Turbo 900 is very good but get a second test result to compare with yours by taking water to an LFS that des not use Api tests and see what reading they get and to compare with yours

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board!

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[Freenow54]

Hi everyone,
I know everyone will be bored of the fish-less cycling questions and I sincerely apologise in advance.
I have a 300L tank. I’ve been setting up since July. I have the aqua scape in place, made from dry rock. The sand is in place and the saltwater has been added. The salinity is perfect.
I decided to do the dr Tim’s cycle and added the bacteria as required and then the ammonia cycle. It’s been three weeks and the ammonia level hasn’t gone down. If I’m honest it’s off the chart. I spoke with a shop and they said to add Pure Reef Balance balls. Which I have done. The ammonia level is still too high.
Could someone tell me what I’m missing or if I should add an alternative bacteria like Fritz Turbo please.

Thank you all for your time

Did the same thing as you. All I can suggest is be patient

 

[Notty74]

Did the same thing as you. All I can suggest is be patient

Thank you for the encouragement. I’ve been freaking that I’ve done something wrong.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[zheka757]

welcome to R2R

 

[MDAquatics]

Welcome!
No need to panic, I would verify the test results with another source and go from there. Some tank take longer than others and the more its manipulated the longer it takes.

 

[00W]

We're all here for you. Welcome Welcome to R2R!

 

[Buckster]

Hello and Welcome to R2R! I believe other members have given you the advice that you are seeking

 

[Pickle_soup]