Help im new to cycling

[Username177013]

Hello everybody, I am having a problem of whether I should add ammonia to my tank or wait until it goes down to 0. This is my 7th day of cycling my tank.

 

[Jekyl]

Once you can go from 2ppm to 0 in 24 hours tank is cycled. Do a large water change after

 

[Username177013]

Once you can go from 2ppm to 0 in 24 hours tank is cycled. Do a large water change after

My tank has not finished cycling. I still have some low nitrites(0.1) and no nitrates

 

[Jekyl]

Then patience is your best bet.

 

[Azedenkae]

Hello everybody, I am having a problem of whether I should add ammonia to my tank or wait until it goes down to 0. This is my 7th day of cycling my tank.

I would recommend that it goes down to 0 before dosing again.

 

[KrisReef]

These test kits are famous for false positives on Ammonia. If you added bacteria (Dr. Tim's or Microbacter7, or similar) then be patient and wait for a few more days and it will be good to go.

Cycling is like riding a bike. The test isn't if the kit says you're good to go, you just get on the bike and ride and in a few days you will forget you never road before. The bacteria are the same. Added them and they will do their thing.

If you can't ride a bike, forget what I wrote.

 

[Devaji]

oh wait wrong group...haha

pretty much what ^they said. I am in the same boat cycling a new build now. if in doubt and you have a LFS take a sample in to them and have them test it. to double check your test kit. some test kits like API never go below .25 but it looks like you are quite high for 7 days.

did you used bottled Bac.? if so what did dose the correct the amount? what ammonia source did you use?

 

[Username177013]

oh wait wrong group...haha

pretty much what ^they said. I am in the same boat cycling a new build now. if in doubt and you have a LFS take a sample in to them and have them test it. to double check your test kit. some test kits like API never go below .25 but it looks like you are quite high for 7 days.

did you used bottled Bac.? if so what did dose the correct the amount? what ammonia source did you use?

Yup I used brightwell microbacter xlm and quikcycl. I dont think I overdosed ammonia, the instruction were to add 4 drop per gallon (80 drops of ammonia) and then 6 capfuls of the nitrifying bacteria. It dropped down slowly every day until it dropped to 2.4 today or 1.2 (I cant really tell whcih color it is)

 

[Jekyl]

If you have a 20 gallon tank I believe you have to deduct for rocks/substrate and guess at total volume. May have been higher than you thought to begin with.

 

[Devaji]

Yup I used brightwell microbacter xlm and quikcycl. I dont think I overdosed ammonia, the instruction were to add 4 drop per gallon (80 drops of ammonia) and then 6 capfuls of the nitrifying bacteria. It dropped down slowly every day until it dropped to 2.4 today or 1.2 (I cant really tell whcih color it is)

just give it a day or two. cant be in a rush with cycling anyway. then test again. like @Jekyl said maybe it was higher then you thought can easily happen on smaller tanks.

let nature take it course even with cycling products it's not gonna happen over night. even when a tank is "cycled" there is a lot to be said about long term stability taking many months to year +.

I am sure you have heard this but nothing good happens in the hobby fast ,so get used to taking some deep breaths and relaxing into the process.

 

[Azedenkae]

If you have a 20 gallon tank I believe you have to deduct for rocks/substrate and guess at total volume. May have been higher than you thought to begin with.

This is important. I have less live rock than the typical 1-1.5lb per gallon rule (I think it is something like 0.75lb per gallon for me?), and already my true water volume is already 15 gallons in a 20 gallon tank, and that's filling the tank to the brim.

More live rock and lower water volume can definitely mean the true water volume is significantly lower than the tank's volume.