Have I screwed up my cycle?

[Lindebrah]

Hi,

I'm setting up my first tank (75 gal) and accidentally dosed ammonia to 8ppm. I added 3 drops of Aqua Forest BioS daily but my ammonia stayed at 8ppm after a week. Since the Bios didn't seem to be working, I added 3 bottles of Fritz Turbostart 900 (rated for 75gal) and the next day I was relieved to see my ammonia had cut in half to 4. The next day, my ammonia went down to 2ppm and my nitrites went to 5.

Four days later my levels are still the same. My ammonia is still 2ppm and my nitrites are still 5. I'm not sure if I messed something up as I'm not sure why the bacteria isn't eating the ammonia I have in the tank. I thought it would have been 0ppm by now. Have I done something wrong?

 

[brandon429]

you have not.

no matter what you read, I have about 10-15 cycles on file where they reached that level. here's one of the fifteen:

100% Water Change

So in my previous thread, I had an ammonia issue that was out of hand. As suggested, I did a 100% WC and now i’m wondering when I should start adding fish back. If anyone has suggestions, let me know!

www.reef2reef.com

your specific action is this: add in two pinches of flake food (Dr. Reef's trick not mine)

wait about ten days total since you started

change out as much water as you can, its algae fuel nitrate by then

you are cycled.
Fritz is two day cycling bac, you added 3x the needed amount. your tester for ammonia is not accurate, you did not hit 8 ppm and stay there. There is literally nothing wrong with your cycle

 

[brandon429]

"levels of ammonia above 5 ppm may slow/stop the cycle"

false.


"presence of nitrite can stall or slow the cycle"
false.

our work thread right there is how they all turn out. *we dont have to wait for wastewater to clear, that's 1997 cycling.

nowadays you mix the wastewater as you want, let it stew over surfaces ten days, change out water, what's left on surfaces is a biofilter slick and it always works, no cycle stalls in reefing.

only wastewater clearing stalls, that's not cycling, we don't reef in wastewater.

sooner than day ten you can change your water and begin, fritz is two day cycling bac already tested a thousand times.

waiting ten days is prudent lol (the 30 day crew cringes in anger)

also supporting these timelines: the directions on all bottle bac.

 

[lapin]

You are cycled.
Fritz is two day cycling bac, you added 3x the needed amount. your tester for ammonia is not accurate, you did not hit 8 ppm and stay there.
There is literally nothing wrong with your cycle,

Yep cycled

 

[brandon429]

and I have no doubt the wastewater is all jacked lol

 

[Lindebrah]

Yep cycled

Wait, I'm already cycled?

 

[Lindebrah]

"levels of ammonia above 5 ppm may slow/stop the cycle"

false.


"presence of nitrite can stall or slow the cycle"
false.

our work thread right there is how they all turn out. *we dont have to wait for wastewater to clear, that's 1997 cycling.

nowadays you mix the wastewater as you want, let it stew over surfaces ten days, change out water, what's left on surfaces is a biofilter slick and it always works, no cycle stalls in reefing.

only wastewater clearing stalls, that's not cycling, we don't reef in wastewater.

sooner than day ten you can change your water and begin, fritz is two day cycling bac already tested a thousand times.

waiting ten days is prudent lol (the 30 day crew cringes in anger)

also supporting these timelines: the directions on all bottle bac.

Should I do it 10 days from when I technically started trying to cycle, or 10 days from using Fritz?

 

[brandon429]

from fritz, perfect. do a large water change and you are set. we show in that thread above you can re-prove for ammonia but I wouldnt, you're dealing in large water volumes it will be ready on the ten days after fritz especially if you have any degree of nitrate, and you should have lots. we are changing the water out due to that.

if on day ten after fritz you tested nitrate and had literally zero, hard zero, i'd believe you are stuck and it would be the first Ive seen.

w that much ammonia and bac I think your nitrates will show 60 ppm, can't wait to test that prediction. we will use your thread here in our cycling threads to track predictions and outcomes.

 

[Lindebrah]

if on day ten after fritz you tested nitrate and had literally zero, hard zero, i'd believe you are stuck and it would be the first Ive seen.

Test the nitrate before or after my water change?

 

[KrisReef]

Test the nitrate before or after my water change?

Before.