Problems with cycling my 125g

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
E

EVP

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 16, 2008
242
0
0
CT
OK I had it just about completed but I messed up in one of 2 places. I am doing a fishless cycle. I used media and gravel from an existing tank. kept ammonia around 5-6ppm. had nitrite spike and then nitrites went to 0. however ammonia wouldnt go below 1ppm. i would add ammonia and with 24hours nitrites were 0 and ammonia 1ppm. i did a 50% water change and used Prime. later i read adding a dechlorinator that reduces ammonia as well can hurt the BB. (possible mess up #1). Just about then my fiance started labor so I added 24 comets to keep the ammonia going since I wouldnt be able to add for a few days (possible mess up #2). When I got home the tank look crystal clear so I thought I was good. I wasnt. I added ammonia and it went no where. I added more the next day and this was too much. Ammonia went to 9ppm. I let that sit a week or so, added some more media from other tank. Ammonia dropped to 1-2ppmm but no signs of nitrites. Its been another 4 weeks. Ive added more media again and have been keeping ammonia at 3-4ppm and still no signs of nitrites.

So my questions are. one which do you think was responsible for killing off the BB? the prime or not being able to feed the BB enough with just the comets? i'd guess the comets. two whats up with not showing any nitrites? do you think i should just be patient more or is there something i'm missing? Thanks!
 
I say, start it all over. Go to the store and buy a panty hoe and some shrimp. Put the shrimp in the panty hoe and hang it by the filter intake for a lil. The decaying shrimp adds some good ammonia to the tank and should get your bb started.
 
Have you checked your tap water? Prime IMO would not kill your BB. It should of atleast dropped your ammonia 1-2ppm. IMO, I would test your tap water for ammonia, and nitrites. Also I would add more comets when your ammonia drops to 2ppm and let them inhabit the tank for a few weeks to assist you in cycling the tank. Good luck
J
 
yeah tap water is fine. just a little bit of chlorine. i dont think i need to add more comets or go with the shrimp as i am adding plenty of ammonia. keeping it around 3-4ppm. just 5 weeks and no signs of nitrites seems weird. when i first started the tank i had nitrites within a week or 2.
 
Bud_Man_Jr;2367168; said:
I'm not a huge fan of fish cycles. Do you have an extra filter you can pull off another tank to help the bb get started?
Click to expand...


like i said bud, i have been putting gravel and filter media in there all along.
 
If you add ammonia to 3-4ppm it will stay there until it is consumed. So If I understand you correctly the ammonia is now dropping but you show no nitrites. If this is so then i would suspect your test kit. Are you using a reputable test kit such as API master. Some people use those test strips which are not worth a penny. Basically if your ammonia is dropping then you have nitrites, that simple. And if the ammonia is not dropping and you keep adding more to it then that is why this is taking so long.
 
hybridtheoryd16;2370442; said:
If you add ammonia to 3-4ppm it will stay there until it is consumed. So If I understand you correctly the ammonia is now dropping but you show no nitrites. If this is so then i would suspect your test kit. Are you using a reputable test kit such as API master. Some people use those test strips which are not worth a penny. Basically if your ammonia is dropping then you have nitrites, that simple. And if the ammonia is not dropping and you keep adding more to it then that is why this is taking so long.
Click to expand...

i agree seems like your test kit. have you tried testing your nitrAte? if you have nitrate then your tank is cycling properly and the test kit is probably bad.
 
i am using API test kit. the drops. its the same test kit i was using all along when it was showing nitrites just a few weeks prior to me having to start over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom