Question about cycle - keep adding ammonia?

[Civicman86]

Im a little over a week into my cycle. Using ace hardware ammonia. I initally dosed to get a reading of 5 for ammonia. I started to so nitrate and nitrite soon after. Now im only reading .25 ammonia and still moderate levels of nitrate and nitrite. My question is - do I continue to does with ammonia until my nitrate falls to 0? Or just let the tank ride until nitrate goes to 0?

 

[mcgyvr]

No
And your tank may never get to 0 nitrates on its own..
Thats really not part of a cycle..

A cycle is complete when ammonia and nitrites are zero... Nitrates could be low or sky high if they aren't being exported or converted to nitrogen gas and leaving the tank that way..

Stop adding it for now.. Once ammonia and nitrites are zero then you can dose it again to achieve a 2ppm reading.. If after doing so ammonia and nitrites are zero in 24 hours or less then the tank is cycled..

THEN you can do water changes to reduce nitrate levels if needed..

 

[Civicman86]

Ok, thanks!

 

[Civicman86]

One additional question?

Once the tank is cycled i plan i plan to buy a fish and quarantine for 4 weeks. I assume then that i will need to feed the tank ammonia during that time to feed the bacteria? 2ppm still? What frequency?

Patience really is a virtue

 

[thegrun]

No, you do not need to feed the tank ammonia, the bacteria will live for over a year without additional food (ammonia). Adding ammonia will only increase your nitrates.

 

[JUNBUG361]

No, you do not need to feed the tank ammonia, the bacteria will live for over a year without additional food (ammonia). Adding ammonia will only increase your nitrates.

Exactly what he said

 

[friedwilly]

No, you do not need to feed the tank ammonia, the bacteria will live for over a year without additional food (ammonia). Adding ammonia will only increase your nitrates.

Agreed! You could ghost feed the tank prior to adding fish. This ensures the bacteria is doing it's job.

 

[Sk8r]

Add (and feed) a Cleanup Crew while you have the fish in qt. That will keep the sandbed strong enough, and it's good to have scavengers in a tank to clean up uneaten food.

 

[Civicman86]

Thanks everyone.

Tested tonight and all parameters went to zero. Not sure what the heck has happened...I redosed to 3.0 ppm ammonia. We will see tomorrow how things look. Using dry Marcos rock so I feel like there is no way I'm cycled after a week and half.