Help cycling my tank.

[John A!10]

So for the past week my tank was basically not cycling. I didn’t know what I was doing. I added bacteria in a bottle before last Friday. I ghost fed it but the ammonia stayed at 0.5ppm and the bacteria seemed dead. This happened till Wednesday when I started another thread where I was told to ghost feed more to get higher ammonia. Thursday my ammonia read 2ppm and I stopped ghost feeding. Saturday I read 2ppm ammonia, 0nitrite, nitrate. I concluded that the bacteria in a bottle did nothin, and I’m doing the whole long cycle. Today I tested and found ≈1ppm ammonia, ≈.1ppm nitrite, 0 nitrate. I feel like I’m on the write track. What should I do? Should I wait for the ammonia, and nitrite to got to 0ppm. I’m expecting the nitrite to spike. When the ammonia goes to 0 and I still have nitrites should I ghost feed? What are the next step?
Thanks a lot,

 

[dbowman5]

hi,
The idea is to keep some ammonia in the tank to keep growing the population of ammonia eating bacteria. so if you are seeing a drop in ammonia add some more food to the point that the ammonia goes from 2 to 0 in a short time or 1 to .25 in a day. then there will be enough nitrite to feed the bacteria that eat nitrites and their population will grow. you still need ammonia being produced to feed the first type of bacteria and nitrites being produced to support that type of bacteria. Remember when live stock is producing ammonia, it is in your tank but is undetectable due to it being converted as it is produced. until you have ammonia producers you have to feed the bacteria or it will die

 

[John A!10]

hi,
the idea is to keep some ammonia in the ank to keep growing the population of ammonia eating bacteria. so if you are seeing a drop in ammonia add some more food to the point that the ammonia goes from 2 to 0 in a short time or 1 to .25 in a day. then there will be enough nitrite to feed the bacteria that eat nitrites and their population will grow. you still need ammonia being produced to feed the first type of bacteria and nitrites being produced to support that type of bacteria. Remember when live stock is producing ammonia, it is in your tank but is undetectable due to it being converted as it is produced. until you have ammoniaproducers you have to feed the bacteria or it will die

So would you recommend I raise ammonia back to 2. How will I know when the cycle is finished if I keep adding ammonia(ghost feeding). Will the population grow to the point where it can handle that much ammonia? And it won’t be detected

 

[W1ngz]

Just keep doing exactly what you're doing and keep testing. There's no need to pollute the tank with yet more rotting food.

The bacteria already in the tank will not die out overnight. You have weeks before this happens, and there is likely already enough decomposing food in the tank to maintain the ammonia for a while.

Ammonia will go up, then down. Along the way nitrite will go up, and then down (possibly quickly, before you even notice). Nitrate will go up, and generally stay up until you do a water change.

0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 10+ ppm nitrate shows a completed initial cycle.

 

[John A!10]

Just keep doing exactly what you're doing and keep testing.

The bacteria already in the tank will not die out overnight. You have weeks before this happens, and there is likely already enough decomposing food in the tank to maintain the ammonia for a while.

So I shouldn't ghost feed? I should just wait?

 

[dbowman5]

correct. depending on the size of your tank, the amount of circulation and the amount of fish/inverts you are hoping to have, the cycle will take longer or shorter. my ammonia never got above one with a nitrite spike of 5 now lightly stocked i have 0 0 and nitrate of 10

 

[W1ngz]

So I shouldn't ghost feed? I should just wait?

there is likely already enough decomposing food in the tank to maintain the ammonia for a while.

 

[John A!10]

OK so next steps, just wait. The tank is a 29 + 10 sump. I will add fish and inverts slowly, so i don't need a very long cycle. Just enough for 1 firefish.

 

[John A!10]

Just keep doing exactly what you're doing and keep testing. There's no need to pollute the tank with yet more rotting food.

The bacteria already in the tank will not die out overnight. You have weeks before this happens, and there is likely already enough decomposing food in the tank to maintain the ammonia for a while.

Ammonia will go up, then down. Along the way nitrite will go up, and then down (possibly quickly, before you even notice). Nitrate will go up, and generally stay up until you do a water change.

0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 10+ ppm nitrate shows a completed initial cycle.

Today, and yesterday, ammonia tested at .3, and nitrites, off the chart. How long do you think before my nitrite, and ammonia 0 out. I’m not ghost feeding anymore. Did the cycle stall?

 

[lapin]

The cycle did not stall. The bacteria that converts nitrite to nitrate takes longer to grow. You are doing just fine.

 

[John A!10]

The cycle did not stall. The bacteria that converts nitrite to nitrate takes longer to grow. You are doing just fine.
[/QUOTE
Do you think around a week till it’s done?

Do you think around a week till it’s done?

 

[W1ngz]

No one can guess at this, you just have to wait it out.

It is impossible for the biology to just 'stop' unless the tank was killed with an antibacterial or bleach. Your bottled bac may have just been DOA, but no one can guess at that from the other side of the internet either.

 

[lapin]

My crystal ball says; I cant spell and a week or 2 more and your good to go

 

[John A!10]

What should I do now:
My ammonia is down to 0. But my nitrites still very high. Should I ghost feed.

 

[W1ngz]

Still waiting...

 

[John A!10]

Still waiting...

Could I add bacteria in a bottle to speed the cycle?

 

[W1ngz]

You could, and it might but...

I've always been hesitant to encourage the behaviour of pouring more stuff into a tank to 'fix' things. Here's why:

Reef tanks require patience. Teaching that to a new reefer is important. You can't rush biology.

There's a bottle of something that will claim to fix almost anything. Many do, but many don't. Some, used incorrectly or for the wrong reason, can seriously destabilize the chemistry.

Your tank is progressing at a microscopic level. The best course of action is to wait.

 

[John A!10]

Could the nitrite bacteria need light? I heard that I should have the light off, but should I turn it on for this bacteria?

 

[W1ngz]

They are not photosynthetic.