Fishless Cyle: Ammonia to Nitrite

[Zpgrimm]

Hello All,

I have been keeping fresh water fish for many years and decided to dive into the Saltwater hobby recently. I opted to do the fishless cycle this time and put a raw shrimp in my tank to raise the ammonia to about 3ppm. Last night at about this time I introduced a dose of Microbacter, I tested my water a couple minutes ago and there is no trace of nitrites. How long does it take for the nitrites to spike?

 

[Anemone]

What's your ammonia? Nitrites will spike when your ammonia goes to zero.

Kevin

 

[ScottF83]

Can take 2-3 weeks depending on the size of your tank

https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co...requently-asked-questions-on-fishless-cycling

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[ramseynb]

It could take less time if you're dosing bacteria. Every tank is different. I've doses bacteria many times and used pure ammonia to kick off the cycle. I've had tanks cycle in a few days and I've had tanks still require a couple weeks. Basically, you need to test ammonia and nitrate. Once you can add a carbon source and 24 hours or so later get a nitrate reading but 0 ammonia, you're good to go. I'm not sure about freshwater, but with a reed tank, nothing good happens fast.

 

[mcgyvr]

FWIW.. Raising ammonia to 1ppm is plenty to cycle a tank.. 2ppm is fine.. 3ppm IMO is getting towards the excessive spot..
Some studies have shown bacterial populations/colonization are effected negatively at around 5ppm...

The more ammonia you put in there really just means that you will need to take care of more nitrates when the cycle is over. You need to do more/larger water changes post cycle to drop those nitrates to a "decent" range..

 

[Zpgrimm]

My Ammonia is at 3ppm right now and staying steady even though I have dosed with Microbacter two days in a row.

 

[Zpgrimm]

I have dosed with Microbacter two days in a row and have 3ppm of ammonia and still no nitrite spike.

 

[mcgyvr]

Patience

 

[nereefpat]

Btw, take the shrimp now if you haven't already done so.

 

[RobZilla04]

Just ignore the tank for a couple of weeks. Easier said than done, but it works.

 

[reteer]

Fishless Cycle Question

Fishless Cycle Question

I've been cycling my 90 gallon reef tank with pre-cured dry rock and live sand. At the beginning of the cycle on 2/19/20 I put in a 8.45oz bottle of bio-spira and 20mL of Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride.

Day 2 - ammonia = 4ppm
nitrites = 0ppm

Day 3 - ammonia = 2ppm
nitrites = 1ppm

Day 4 - ammonia = .25ppm
nitrites = 2ppm
nitrates = 50ppm
after testing I added 15ml of Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride

Day 5 - ammonia = 2ppm
nitrites = 2ppm
nitrates = 50ppm

Day6 - ammonia = .25ppm
nitrites = 2ppm
nitrates = 50ppm

Day 7 - ammonia = 0ppm
nitrites = 2ppm
nitrates = 50ppm

Day 8 - ammonia = 0ppm
nitrites = 1ppm
nitrates = 40-80 with API test kit, 50ppm with Red Sea test kit

Day 9 - ammonia = .2ppm
nitrites = 1ppm
nitrates = 50ppm

Day 10 - ammonia = 1ppm
nitrites = 2ppm
nitrates - 40-80 with API test kit, 50ppm with Red Sea test kit

Day 14 - ammonia = .2ppm
nitrites = 0ppm
nitrates = 40-80 with API test kit, 50ppm with Red Sea test kit

Day 15 - ammonia =.2ppm
nitrites = 0ppm
nitrates = 40-80 with API test kit, 50ppm with Red Sea test kit

So its actually been about 3 weeks because I didn't test parameters every day. I haven't added ammonia since day 4. should i be adding more ammonia or doing a water change to bring down nitrates, then adding more ammonia to make sure the cycle is done or is this cycle actually done? I'm not sure why ammonia went back up to .2ppm after day 8 either after it was 0ppm. Please advise, thanks!