Help Tank won't Cycle

[AScarbro14]

36 gallon bow front 15 gallon sump tanks been running about 2 months ammonia spiked then nitrates and nitrites started to raised then just stopped. Anyone else ever have this problem?

 

[chefjpaul]

What are you using for the ammonia source?
What process /steps did you use to start the cycle?
How long has this been total?
Have you been feeding ammonia?
You'll need to keep feeding at an appropriate rate to keep the bacteria going.

Well get you going, it takes a long time to cycle a tank. Nothing no one here has not been through.

 

[AScarbro14]

Started with seachem stability wasn't doing anything so I put a small piece of raw shrimp. Set up dat was dec15th. I started using stability on dec 20th. I also started will all dry rock.

 

[printerrob]

What are your current levels, and what are you using for filtration?

 

[printerrob]

sorry don't mind the picture i don't now how that got in there

 

[AScarbro14]

Let me check them now it's been a few days

 

[chefjpaul]

Hmmm.
I haven't used that product, but I believe if you are not feeding it an ammonia source, the bacteria die off.

Since you added the shrimp, what did your ammonia level get to at its highest point?

I would let us know those three chemical levels currently, possibly done because you added the bottle bacteria, or still ammonia present due to the shrimp.

Here is a way to test; (after posting the levels)
Dose pure ammonia to 2-3ppt.
(Approximately 1drop /gallon).
Test in 24hrs.
If its zero ammonia, do it again.
If still 0, then your cycled.

 

[AScarbro14]

Last ammonia check was 8ppm

 

[AScarbro14]

But I am getting am up to date one now

 

[printerrob]

what are your other levels at and what were the levels the last time you tested?

 

[chefjpaul]

what are your other levels at and what were the levels the last time you tested?

+1
8ppm is way too high.
You need to be around 3-4ppm max.

 

[printerrob]

Hmmm.
I haven't used that product, but I believe if you are not feeding it an ammonia source, the bacteria die off.

Since you added the shrimp, what did your ammonia level get to at its highest point?

I would let us know those three chemical levels currently, possibly done because you added the bottle bacteria, or still ammonia present due to the shrimp.

Here is a way to test; (after posting the levels)
Dose pure ammonia to 2-3ppt.
(Approximately 1drop /gallon).
Test in 24hrs.
If its zero ammonia, do it again.
If still 0, then your cycled.

I never heard of dosing ammonia like that and I don't know if i would personally trust it IMO but thats just me

 

[chefjpaul]

Ammonia can be of any source.
Pure ammonia is very common way and the most accurate to control.

I've done all my tanks with pure ammonia.

Especially if using bottle bacteria.

 

[chefjpaul]

http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/fishless-cycling

Good guide to go by, doesn't matter the bottle bacteria as they're almost all same.

But same principle and levels to follow

 

[printerrob]

Also what are you using to test? I would not trust the test strips since I got 2 different results testing the same sample I use API liquid test, I want to eventually upgrade to the better more accurate test.

 

[Pete polyp]

Dosing ammonia would work just as well as using shrimp etc. If you still have ammonia in the tank then it's not ready. If the ammonia is 0 then it's cycled. I always have fed my tanks during the cycle as if there was already fish in there. I would throw about 5-10 mysis in there every few days until the ammonia 0 out.

If you had 8ppm ammonia and it 0 out then you had a heck of a strong cycle lol.

 

[chefjpaul]

Oh yeah. Strong bacteria in there.

Don't add anything if it is that high, it'll just take longer.

Test ammonia more often.
You'll see the pattern

 

[AScarbro14]

Temp 79.5
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia 4 ppm
Nitrite 2 ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm

 

[printerrob]

Temp 79.5
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia 4 ppm
Nitrite 2 ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm

Heres what i would do.
do about a 20% water change to bring those levels down a little then test, let the tank sit for about 1 week the test again if your ammonia & nitrite levels are lower then what they were after the water change start adding a small pinch of fish food everyday to keep feeding the bacteria, then start testing every other day you should notice your levels getting lower. I had to do this with my very first tank. once your ammonia and nitrite are at or very close to 0 then do a 50% water change to bring the nitrates down.

 

[nemoisk]

I would get a buddy that's in the hobby and use there old tank water when they're doing there water change.