Tank Cycle Issues

[Nature Scaped]

I have a 75 gallon tank set up 3 weeks ago now.
I used bio media from an existing canister and transferred it to my FX6. I also threw in 2 large sponge filters from an existing tank, as well as Dr Tims one and only bacteria.

I’ve been testing quite frequently and here is what I’ve seen for almost the past 2 weeks. The ammonia rises to around 4, drops down below 1, then back up to 4. This keeps going on and on, no sign of nitrites or nitrates. There are no fish in the system, plants or anything of that, that would be effecting the levels of ammonia.
I am using a Hanna photometer to test the parameters.

 

[nicobee18]

Are you ghost feeding the tank to keep the transferred bio media BB alive? If not, that bacteria will have died off now and is probably why you are seeing the Ammonia spikes. Normally when cycling a tank you need to put a food source in there for the BB, I always use a shrimp or two during the cycle (leave it a day or two before swapping out, so it doesn't start to decompose and put crap into your tank) in the tank to ensure there's enough food for the BB colony to take hold.

 

[Nature Scaped]

Are you ghost feeding the tank to keep the transferred bio media BB alive? If not, that bacteria will have died off now and is probably why you are seeing the Ammonia spikes. Normally when cycling a tank you need to put a food source in there for the BB, I always use a shrimp or two during the cycle (leave it a day or two before swapping out, so it doesn't start to decompose and put crap into your tank) in the tank to ensure there's enough food for the BB colony to take hold.

Yes I have been ghost feeding as well.

 

[nicobee18]

Strange. It seems like the BB colony is trying to establish itself, are you ghost feeding consistently, or is the spike in ammonia around the time you are feeding? If so the drop you are seeing could be the BB utilising the ammonia, then it spikes back up again when you feed again. Id go lighter on the feedings to see if that smooths out the ammonia spikes and starts to show a nitrite reading.

 

[Nature Scaped]

Strange. It seems like the BB colony is trying to establish itself, are you ghost feeding consistently, or is the spike in ammonia around the time you are feeding? If so the drop you are seeing could be the BB utilising the ammonia, then it spikes back up again when you feed again. Id go lighter on the feedings to see if that smooths out the ammonia spikes and starts to show a nitrite reading.

Yeah I’ll try and cut back on the feeding and see if I see any nitrite readings.

 

[nicobee18]

Cycling can be either the easiest or down right hardest part of the hobby. What works one time, might not work the next, you just have to find what that tank "wants". Goodluck and hope you get the Nitrite reading in the next day or so (You should )