Cycling Help

[aokashi]

it seems like ur done. but overdosing on ammonia.
do you have a log? that will help more...

[indicat]

I haven't been keeping a log, but from memory those levels have been pretty consistent this week. The tank is at a school and I will be gone all weekend, so maybe the ammonia will get processed?

[whiskandbowl]

Tested today and yesterday, I thought it was a fluke or I mistested.

Ammonia 0.0ppm
Nitrite 0.0ppm
Nitrate 0.0ppm

Got these same results yesterday morning, last night, and this morning. Made sure to shake the nitrate bottle really, really well.

What's happened?

[aokashi]

do you have algae in the tank?

[whiskandbowl]

Nope. Crystal clear.

[aokashi]

Plants...? :O

[whiskandbowl]

Silk ones

[aokashi]

LOlolol no idea :P pm hallyx

[whiskandbowl]

Okay so I tested again this morning. The nitrate test looked like it was reading 0.0ppm to me, but my BF insists it's at 5.0ppm (the first level after 0) I'll have to post a pic to see what you guys think.

It seems like my cycle has stalled again. I'm going to pick up some Safe Start and filter floss to see if I can jump start it again and get the good bacteria to stick around.

Will keep you all updated. LOL I should have called this thread "Cycling Problems? It's probably happened to me!"

[Hallyx]

Nitrate shouldn't even be showing at all in the absence of ammonia followed by nitrite.

A tank sometimes cycles even when the keeper doesn't want it too. Some seem to have trouble. Just guessing, but it may have something to do with the amount and type of nitrifying bacteria present in the air. I just heard of someone who tried starting their cycle using garden dirt, because a type of bacteria related to nitrosomonas is found in soil. But so are a lot of other not-so-good bacteria. I don't know the outcome.

OK, I just re-read this thread. You have a fish waiting on this tank....since late August (?) Go ahead and set him up in the tank. Use Prime or Amquel to keep the ammonia converted to ammonium. Keep up with your water changes to keep the ammonia down below 0.25ppm.

No reason he should have to put up with inferior accommodations, even though you're doing the right thing but having trouble. Read OldFishLady's article on fish-in cycling in the "Bowls and Habitats" section.

I forgot to ask you about your pH and hardness (GH and KH). If your water is very soft with low pH, the bacteria will have a harder time reproducing.