Problems with cycling my 125g

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
You said you added prime?
It's not advisable to add anything except a "de-chlorinator" to start and ammonia...

Here is what I'd do...drain and wash everything, in chlorinated water...
then
fill with de-chlorinated water,use Stresscoat,
NOT prime or any other ammonia remover etc.

Set temp to 82-84f

add 5 drops clear ammonia per gallon.
do this daily, until the nitrItes are measurable...
once measurable,
lower the ammonia to 3 drops per gallon,
daily until your NitrItes go to zero.

When your Ammonia and NitrItes read zero, AND
your NitrAtes read 20-40 ppm,
do a 30% water change with de-chlorinated water, adjust temp and add fish...

Make sure your test kit vials are rinsed in tap water and dried with a clean paper towel before use.
Use the caps and not your finger etc...

Let the new Bacteria develop without doing a W/C till the numbers are right 0/0/20-40

I have used this method on everything I put a brand new filter on with excellent results...
 
zennzzo;2370870; said:
You said you added prime?
It's not advisable to add anything except a "de-chlorinator" to start and ammonia...

Here is what I'd do...drain and wash everything, in chlorinated water...
then
fill with de-chlorinated water,use Stresscoat,
NOT prime or any other ammonia remover etc.

Set temp to 82-84f

add 5 drops clear ammonia per gallon.
do this daily, until the nitrItes are measurable...
once measurable,
lower the ammonia to 3 drops per gallon,
daily until your NitrItes go to zero.

When your Ammonia and NitrItes read zero, AND
your NitrAtes read 20-40 ppm,
do a 30% water change with de-chlorinated water, adjust temp and add fish...

Make sure your test kit vials are rinsed in tap water and dried with a clean paper towel before use.
Use the caps and not your finger etc...

Let the new Bacteria develop without doing a W/C till the numbers are right 0/0/20-40

I have used this method on everything I put a brand new filter on with excellent results...
Click to expand...


yes i used prime when i did the 50% water change. why would I need to drain and wash everything? you think the prime is keeping the tank from progressing? the prime was added about 6-7weeks ago.

also stress coat says that it removes ammonia if im not mistaken.
 
one problem with using prime is it will give a false positive for ammonia also the bacteria in the gravel or whatever you used to seed the tank will take care of some ammonia so it will go up and down untill you have enough bacteria to take care of it completly.make sure you have enough filtration to handle the tank keep adding ammonia check for nitrates if you see some it means everything is starting to work remember it can take along time to completly cycle a tank
 
also ammonia removers do not actually remove ammonia they just change it into a form that isnt harmful to fish and the bacteria will eat whats left
 
EVP;2371199; said:
yes i used prime when i did the 50% water change. why would I need to drain and wash everything? you think the prime is keeping the tank from progressing? the prime was added about 6-7weeks ago.

also stress coat says that it removes ammonia if im not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Nope...
Stresscoat:
Instantly removes chlorine and neutralizes heavy metals while replacing the natural slime coating fish need in times of stress.

The reason I would brake it all down and re-do it is because I know the way I described the fishless cycle to you works, and anything else added or ommited will only foul the process..IMO...
 
dwilder;2371266; said:
one problem with using prime is it will give a false positive for ammonia also the bacteria in the gravel or whatever you used to seed the tank will take care of some ammonia so it will go up and down untill you have enough bacteria to take care of it completly.make sure you have enough filtration to handle the tank keep adding ammonia check for nitrates if you see some it means everything is starting to work remember it can take along time to completly cycle a tank
Click to expand...


false positive for ammonia? do you think the tank could actually be cycled then? how long after adding prime can it still do that?
 
its not cycled unless your showing 0 nitrites and high nitrates usually it only shows false for a day or two and then you can get an accurate reading
 
EVP;2371332; said:
false positive for ammonia? do you think the tank could actually be cycled then? how long after adding prime can it still do that?
Click to expand...
The only way you are going to get the results you are after is to let it happen...it cannot be rushed or altered in any way...It is obvious you are not cycled...you added Prime to remove Ammonia...that is not nessasary in a cycled tank...
A cycled tank with healthy bacteria reads O/O/20-40
 
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