High Ammonia During Cycle

[Kasey Grohowski]

I just started cycling my tank today, I know its very early to be worried about ammonia, but it looks like it is at about 7-8 ppm, which is very high. I added 2 teaspoons of ammonium chloride which should've raised it to 3.5. I added API quick start bacteria and I have 200 pounds of live sand in there. Anything I can do or should I just wait to see if it goes down?

 

[JayKim]

Just be patient, mine was 8+ and now it's down to 0.5. maybe add more nitrifying bacteria. You will see nitrite spike up too after your ammonia goes down, again be patient and let it go it's course.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Just be patient, mine was 8+ and now it's down to 0.5. maybe add more nitrifying bacteria. You will see nitrite spike up too after your ammonia goes down, again be patient and let it go it's course.

Yeah I just thought if it gets too high, it will stall the cycle.

 

[JayKim]

Yeah I just thought if it gets too high, it will stall the cycle.

I read that too but than again I added different bacteria that are enough for about 500 gallons and I have about 160 gallon system. My nitrite is 8ppm+ tuesday, I will test nitrite again today to see where it's at.

 

[JayKim]

also, i don't think it'll stall the cycle, just slow it down.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I read that too but than again I added different bacteria that are enough for about 500 gallons and I have about 160 gallon system. My nitrite is 8ppm+ tuesday, I will test nitrite again today to see where it's at.

I added 235 gallons worth of api quick start to my 220, ill get another bottle. I also have microbacter 7, you think its good to mix bacteria?

 

[JayKim]

I added seachem stability, dr. tim's one and only, bio spira, nite out 2, tetra smart start and pink fusion and purple helix. I cann't speak for microbacter as i never used it but i'm sure it's fine.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I just started cycling my tank today, I know its very early to be worried about ammonia, but it looks like it is at about 7-8 ppm, which is very high. I added 2 teaspoons of ammonium chloride which should've raised it to 3.5. I added API quick start bacteria and I have 200 pounds of live sand in there. Anything I can do or should I just wait to see if it goes down?

Congrats on get that tank up and running. Send pics once you start stocking. #jaykim said it well, don’t rush
.

AND...... to jaykim

Welcometo the club

 

[StayGolden]

i would just wait. you dont want amonia to get too high where its toxic to everything, but you do want to wait, watch for a spike, then watch it trickle down. if it gets to toxics levels do a water change to bring it back down to a reasonable level, and wait for the bacteria to grown and start to consume.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

i would just wait. you dont want amonia to get too high where its toxic to everything, but you do want to wait, watch for a spike, then watch it trickle down. if it gets to toxics levels do a water change to bring it back down to a reasonable level, and wait for the bacteria to grown and start to consume.

What would you consider a toxic level?

 

[StayGolden]

What would you consider a toxic level?

i would say just keep the levels around 2-3ppm, and watch it. if levels are too high itll take forever for you to notice the bacteria populate (drop in ammonia). if even you kept it at 1ppm, all you are looking for is a drop. once you see a drop in ppms you know bacteria are consuming the ammonia.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

i would say just keep the levels around 2-3ppm, and watch it. if levels are too high itll take forever for you to notice the bacteria populate (drop in ammonia). if even you kept it at 1ppm, all you are looking for is a drop. once you see a drop in ppms you know bacteria are consuming the ammonia.

Okay, should I watch it for a week and if no changes in ammonia do a 25% water change?