Trouble cycling new tank

cyberCoder · Feb 23, 2019

Hi

I have been trying to use fishless cycle a brand new 10 gallon tank and haven't gotten success for 30 days. My setup is a hang-on protein skimmer, no substrate, quite some marine pure balls in a in-tank filter ( on the side of the tank separated by glass panels ).

3 days ago, I decided to replace all the water and started again. I put in ammonia chloride powder ( used Dr Tim's Ammonia before during the 30 days, but wondering if the Ammonia source was the problem). I am also using the seeder ( Brightwell Aquatics ABABAC500 Microbacter7 Liquid Water Conditioners for Aquarium ) , Here are the test results :

Feb-21 : Ammonia 1.5 , Nitrite 0 , Nitrate 0
Feb-22 : Ammonia 1.5 , Nitrite 0 , Nitrate 0
Feb-23 11AM : Ammonia 2 , Nitrite 0.2 , Nitrate 0
Feb-23 8PM : Ammonia 1.0 - 1.5 , Nitrite (almost 0 ) , Nitrate ( very light color, maybe 0.5 - 1 )

I have been quite confused and not sure what to do. Should I just wait for another day, and add some ammonia to see?

Dr. Reef · Feb 23, 2019

You have ammonia and nitrates so let it cycle. It's not there yet. You can try putting some more bacteria in the tank and also drop 3 to 5 small pellets of fish food in the tank. Or a pinch of fish food if no pellets available.
Then they testing next day or 2 and watch ammonia drop to 0.

cyberCoder · Feb 24, 2019

Thank you Dr. Reef. I have added pinch of "dried brine shrimp". Should I turn the protein skimmer on at this stage?

Dr. Reef · Feb 24, 2019

skimmer can be on during cycling. Also redose bacteria tomorrow.

sfin52 · Feb 24, 2019

welcome to reef2reef

keep following @Dr. Reef instructions and you'll do just fine .

cyberCoder · Feb 24, 2019

Thank you all again. Dr Reef, I am more confused. I have dosed more bacteria ( just as what the bottle instructed 5ml), and the water is more cloudy today. However:

Feb-24 9PM : Ammonia 1.0 - 1.5 , Nitrite (almost 0 ) , meaning no change....

All the tests that I have done are using Salifert. So I got a API Ammonia test today, and completely surprised me, the API Ammonia test kit is showing Black result meaning > 8ppm Ammonia!!!!

I have attached the pictures, which one should I trust?

Now should I replace all these water again? .........

Dr. Reef · Feb 24, 2019

Salifert kit is not a TAN kit it's most likely testing NH3 while API is TAN NH3+NH4.
If Nh3 is 1-1.5 that is extremely high.
Nh3 at 0.2 is dangerous while 0.5 is lethal.
I would perform 50% wc to bring ammonia levels down to half and then redose bacteria and let it cycle.

Dr. Reef · Feb 24, 2019

You are better off using Fritz Turbostart 900 if you can find it then Bio spira and then Dr Tim. These where the best performers in my bacteria testing.

Dr. Reef · Feb 24, 2019

You are better off using Fritz Turbostart 900 if you can find it then Bio spira and then Dr Tim. These where the best performers in my bacteria testing.

cyberCoder · Feb 24, 2019

Thanks Dr. I have this bacteria bought amazon. I have a Seacham Stability, but not used nor opened.

Will do a 50% water change tonight and see how it goes.

Will stick with API from now.

cyberCoder · Feb 24, 2019

Dr , do you mean this product ?

sfin52 · Feb 24, 2019

you need to get ammonia down way to high to cycle a tank .

sfin52 · Feb 24, 2019

you need to get ammonia down way to high to cycle a tank .

cyberCoder · Feb 25, 2019

Yes, thanks both. I just performed a 50% WC and the API test is still showing pretty much black. I am going to perform a 75% or maybe even 90% WC tomorrow and try again. I don't need to post a picture to show you the API test result, as it pretty much shows > 8ppm. Horrible!

cyberCoder · Feb 26, 2019

Dr. Reef and sfin52, I did a WC yesterday with nearly 90% , and after that the API test still shows about 4ppm. I am a bit paranoid about these tests at the moment but I am very certain that API test shows < 8ppm at this point. I am quite sure because of the other test kit's reading caused me dose way too much ammonia powder.

Redose the bacteria and waited 24 hours.

Feb-25 8PM: WC , Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-26 8PM : Ammonia 4ppm.

Sounds like I should wait for a couple days for now and see what happens.

We wanted to set up a tank every time we went on vacation in the past several years, and we always worried about not able to handle the fish. When we finally started , we are planning to get a 120G tank, but wanted to start small and get a feeling. The store told us it's a "terrible idea" to start small instead of the 120G because it's actually harder. Seriously!

Please let me know if you have other suggestions.

cyberCoder · Mar 1, 2019

Dr, I see Ammonia starting to drop today, it isn't very significant yet. I just want to make sure as I still have ammonia, I shouldn't be adding anything , not even the fish food yet. Is that right?

Feb-25 8PM: WC , Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-26 8PM : Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-27 8PM : Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-28 10PM : Ammonia <4ppm. Lighter color but not 2ppm yet.

ShaunRobinson · Mar 2, 2019

cyberCoder said:
Dr. Reef and sfin52, I did a WC yesterday with nearly 90% , and after that the API test still shows about 4ppm. I am a bit paranoid about these tests at the moment but I am very certain that API test shows < 8ppm at this point. I am quite sure because of the other test kit's reading caused me dose way too much ammonia powder.

Redose the bacteria and waited 24 hours.

Feb-25 8PM: WC , Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-26 8PM : Ammonia 4ppm.

Sounds like I should wait for a couple days for now and see what happens.

We wanted to set up a tank every time we went on vacation in the past several years, and we always worried about not able to handle the fish. When we finally started , we are planning to get a 120G tank, but wanted to start small and get a feeling. The store told us it's a "terrible idea" to start small instead of the 120G because it's actually harder. Seriously!

Please let me know if you have other suggestions.

The shop was entirely correct in telling you the bigger tank was the best one to start with mate. Larger water volume = smaller parameter swings = more time to right any wrongs if that makes sense.

cyberCoder said:
Dr, I see Ammonia starting to drop today, it isn't very significant yet. I just want to make sure as I still have ammonia, I shouldn't be adding anything , not even the fish food yet. Is that right?

Feb-25 8PM: WC , Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-26 8PM : Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-27 8PM : Ammonia 4ppm.
Feb-28 10PM : Ammonia <4ppm. Lighter color but not 2ppm yet.

It looks to me like everything is going okay at the moment, I know it’s not easy when starting a new tank as you can’t wait to get stuff in there but you have to give it time and be patient. Do you have live rock in the tank or is it empty?

cyberCoder · Mar 2, 2019

Thanks, will be patient. It's like this small tank ( 10-15 G) that has the built-in filter on the left side. I put quite a lot of Marine Pure balls in the filter slot, and a pump. I have put a couple air stones in that filter slot as well. Then a wave maker to keep the water flow. I have dry rock inside, no live rock at all and perhaps that made it harder. About 8LB of dry rock.

210697-14g-fusion-innovative-marine-peninsula-aquarium.jpg

ShaunRobinson · Mar 2, 2019

cyberCoder said:
Thanks, will be patient. It's like this small tank ( 10-15 G) that has the built-in filter on the left side. I put quite a lot of Marine Pure balls in the filter slot, and a pump. I have put a couple air stones in that filter slot as well. Then a wave maker to keep the water flow. I have dry rock inside, no live rock at all and perhaps that made it harder. About 8LB of dry rock.

Nice little tank there.

Using dry rock will obviously take longer to cycle than live rock as it takes time for the bacteria to colonise in the rock but your ammonia is dropping which is a good thing. If it is dropping I would test for nitrites and nitrates at the same time. You probably know what is likely to happen with them anyway (let me know if you are unsure) but it’s always nice to have a visual guide to what’s happening in your tank. If you have the Seachem Stability then I would also dose this over the next 7 days as per the instructions to add to the bacteria population.

Shaun.

cyberCoder · Mar 2, 2019

Thanks both. I have been dosing the other brand I mentioned above. I am considering to buy the Bio spira Dr mentioned above. Is it ok to switch bacteria in the middle of the process?

One more point I want to mention that the water started becoming more cloudy which is probably going to the right direction for now.