How much is to much ammonia in cycling tank

[tmac2102]

Hey I just started cycling my tank a few days ago and just tested for ammonia today and it read off the chart on my test kit over 6 ppm. I'm going to do a second test when I get back from work but just thought I would ask around if that is to much or if I should be OK.

All I did to add the ammonia to the tank was ghost feed it for a couple days so I'm assuming that it is probably coming from my rock but I did put the rock through and acid bath.

I have a 5' 108 gallon tank and filled it with Rodi water

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[jayball]

That much may slow down you cycle a bit but it will be okay. When I cycle I try to keep it around 2 PPM. Stop ghost feeding until you see a rapid drop

 

[thegrun]

+1, 2ppm is ideal, anything above 8ppm will slow down the cycle. Dilute your sample with RO/DI water 50% and retest, then double the result to see where your ammonia level is at. If it's over 8ppm I would make a water change to get it below 8ppm. You could simply wait for nature to take her course, but it is likely that your cycle will take a couple of weks longer if you don't make the water change.

 

[scooter31707]

I would also add some Bio-Spira or Stablility to get some bacteria going in there to help eat up some of the ammonia.

 

[OldReefGuy]

I would just leave as is, let nature take the extra 2-3 weeks....but thats just me