Help with fishless tank cycling

[The_Underwater_Gardener]

Hello,

I’m pretty sure my tank cycle is stalled. Going on the 3rd week of cycling. Dosed bacteria and ammonia on first day. Been doing sea chem stability since.

Ammonia has been really high 8ppm then 4 ppm after 25% water change.

Nitrates and nitrites have been 0 every time.

Not sure if I should do a big water change or try Dr Tim’s bacteria?

Thank you everyone

 

[TX_REEF]

don't do any water changes during cycle. Add ammonia and bacteria, then be patient and test until nitrites and nitrates rise. Once ammonia and nitrite are zero, you're good to go. Patience is key.

 

[Timfish]

I would dopuble check your ammonia test kit. Add some live rock from TBSaltwater, KP Aquatics or Gulf Live ROck. I wouldn't bother with bottled stuff. I would also add some cheap hardy corals to start feeding on the ammonia. (FWIW I don't test ever for nitrite and nitrate only after the tank is up and running with animals.)

Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock

Studying the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium shows that high-quality live rock promotes the rapid establishment of an effective biological filter and a microbial community similar to those found in mature reef tanks.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[unclejed]

Well, the Seachem stability may have stalled things or at least retarded the cycle. Seachem recommends their AmGuard to get the amonia under control. Also, is the water RO/DI? If doing water changes that may have TDS at any level will delay the total cycle.

 

[The_Underwater_Gardener]

I would dopuble check your ammonia test kit. Add some live rock from TBSaltwater, KP Aquatics or Gulf Live ROck. I wouldn't bother with bottled stuff. I would also add some cheap hardy corals to start feeding on the ammonia. (FWIW I don't test ever for nitrite and nitrate only after the tank is up and running with animals.)

Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock

Studying the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium shows that high-quality live rock promotes the rapid establishment of an effective biological filter and a microbial community similar to those found in mature reef tanks.

www.reef2reef.com

What kind of coral would you recommend?

 

[The_Underwater_Gardener]

Well, the Seachem stability may have stalled things or at least retarded the cycle. Seachem recommends their AmGuard to get the amonia under control. Also, is the water RO/DI? If doing water changes that may have TDS at any level will delay the total cycle.

Using tap water with seachem prime

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What kind of coral would you recommend?

Using tap water with seachem prime

If you want to keep coral, then you might want to reconsider your decision to use tap water. Use rodi or distilled water for best results with corals.

 

[Timfish]

What kind of coral would you recommend?

Free or cheap is usually a good indicator of hardy.

 

[code4]

I sometimes ghost feed the tank. And I love the ammonia badge. I can tell the ammonia is there at a glance. This is your first test to go slow. Nothing good happens fast.

 

[GARRIGA]

Using BioSpira my ammonia solved within four days and nitrites within nine. Carbon dosed after adding some phosphates and got that solved without resorting to a WC. Similar success using One and Only although I didn't track the days to solve and no carbon dosing.

If ammonia truly at 8 ppm then that might be the cause of delay. As mentioned. Stop doing water changes.

Below is an informative discussion at MACNA where I learned and thought I already had this subject covered. One can never stop learning.