I think i stuffed up cycle

[Aa99]

Hi.

I started up a 30 gallon and i cycled with food and it finished cycling after 4 weeks.

I did a water change and stuff and now im worried i messed up. For some reason i am getting an ammonia reading of 0.50ppm even tho nitrites, nitrates etc are 0. Its like the cycle is starting again. Im not sure what to do?

 

[Redfoxtang]

First off welcome to R2R!! When you started your cycle adding food did you also add any bacteria source?

 

[Cell]

API ammonia test? Likely a false positive. A work around is to take note of your current measurement. Spike in enough ammonia to register a noticeable change in the ammonia test, wait a day, then retest and see if it dropped back down to your original level.

 

[scabbedwings616]

And you might have gotten a false reading. Check back in a day or few hours later. I’ve had it do the same and a few hours later it was back to zero. If not, you will need to wait again for all to go back to zero. And let it stay that way a few days before you do a water change. Don’t rush into things and be patient with it.

 

[Aa99]

First off welcome to R2R!! When you started your cycle adding food did you also add any bacteria source?

Yeah, quickstart.

 

[Aa99]

API ammonia test? Likely a false positive. A work around is to take note of your current measurement. Spike in enough ammonia to register a noticeable change in the ammonia test, wait a day, then retest and see if it dropped back down to your original level.

Yes API. Thanks, i will test again tonight.

 

[Aa99]

And you might have gotten a false reading. Check back in a day or few hours later. I’ve had it do the same and a few hours later it was back to zero. If not, you will need to wait again for all to go back to zero. And let it stay that way a few days before you do a water change. Don’t rush into things and be patient with it.

Thanks man, ill keep u updated

 

[ScubaFish802]

Like others said, API almost always shows a small amount of ammonia. I started testing with Salifert instead

 

[Aa99]

Update: tested again 5 mins ago and ammonia is still 0.50ppm, should i wait a few more days and see what happens or do u think it will just keep showing ammonia since API test kits show ammonia regardless?

 

[brandon429]

change your water, add something. per this thread:

How to unstick any seemingly stuck cycle

Updated Cycling Science in Action This is a testless reef tank cycling thread, the only one from any board. If you ever had trouble with reef tank cycling in the past, you won't any longer after working some jobs with us. chances are you are using/about to use a method of reef tank cycling...

www.reef2reef.com

the thread explains why you are cycled, start clean. don't fret over the wastewater any longer, change it all out for new + begin lightly.

reasons your post matches the params from that thread:

-met timeframe on cycling chart for controlling ammonia
-using API explains the measures posted, the holding above zero
-used food and known inoculation source

I would be concerned if your tank didn't have live rock and live sand to attach to, but most cyclers are all set there

we dont want that thread above to look like any old tank can be made ready, its that we collect folks who keep meeting those recurring parameters over and over.

you can also clearly define if the cycle is stuck using that method, the third pic will look like the second one if a cycle is stuck.

third ammonia pic looks like the first taken of the set, in all reefs tested, so far no cycle sticks I've seen.