Stalled Fishless Cycle

n4soccer06 · Jan 13, 2019

So I'm a newbie and I've building my tank for the last few months. Just after Christmas I started my cycling process. I started with Dr. Tim's ammonia to 2ppm and headed 2 Instant Ocean Bio Spira of live bacteria (120gallons worth). Everything was going well at first but for the last 7 days I have had no change. Currently, I have 0ppm ammonia, 5+ppm of NO2 and 40ppm NO3.

In my research everyone was saying not to add any more ammonia so I haven't.

Any suggestions on how to get the process started again?

Display -60 gallon
Sump - 55 gallon (25 gallons actual are being used)

acabgd · Jan 13, 2019

What do you mean "to start again"? Your system processed 2ppm ammonia and that's the bacteria. Your NO2 is stuck at 5+ ppm and it will probably take a few more days. Usually you're not seeing any change to NO2, then suddenly it drops down to 0 within a few hours. Just a little more patience.

n4soccer06 · Jan 13, 2019

First, thank you for quick response. I probably should have used "restart" instead of "to start again". Got yeah, I know patience are needed and I have been trying but its hard, haha. I just wanna add fish. Sounds good, I'll keep trying to keep my patience in check, lol.

EmdeReef · Jan 13, 2019

FWIW nitrites wouldn’t be toxic to fish at that level. However, I would suggest doing a quick “stress test” on your system by adding a little more ammonia source in the evening and measuring again in the morning. If at zero wait a couple more days and would be fine to add fish. Of course consider quarantining any new fish if at all possible.