10gal cycling help!

[FreshyFresh]

The fish-less cycle of my new 10gal progressed much faster than I had expected. Nitrites spiked off the chart yesterday w/ an ammonia drop (happened on day 5). I dosed it again w/ ammonia last night.

This evening I'm at ~1-2ppm ammo, 5ppm nitrites and ~160ppm nitrates!

Do I continue to dose with ammonia at this point and let it go?

I guess what's got me scared is the near off the chart nitrates at this point @ 160ppm? Not sure if I need to do a water change at this point because of this.

Thanks

 

[OrangeCones]

I would do 75% water change, retest so you know what your baseline is, and continue to add ammonia.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Thank you OC.

Problem is, I'm a total arse!

I just figured out I have not been following the proper procedure for nitrate measurement! I have been shaking bottle #2 for 30sec, but I totally missed the shake the test tube for 1min part. Ugh!!

Not doing so gives you a false reading.

After re-reading the API instructions, I re-measured. 1ppm ammo. just off the chart nitrites. 5ppm nitrates.

I'm somewhat relieved with those numbers though. They seem more textbook?

Sorry for wasting your time and tnx for the help.

Joel

 

[OrangeCones]

Those numbers definately sound more logical. Nitrate testing is the most easily done incorrectly, so give yourself a break!

You did a wonderful job!

 

[FreshyFresh]

Thanks OC.

0, 5 and 20 this AM

I dosed it with ammo..

Moving along! My 29? Mehh.. not so much.

Joel

 

[OrangeCones]

Take a handful of your 10gallon's gravel and put it in the 29. Use a piece of nylon if you don't want to mix the gravel in the end. It should speed things along.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Will do...

Do you think rubbing the "bio-wheel" from the 10gal's filter onto the 29gal's filter sponge would be OK too? (almost sounds obscene..)

Joel

 

[OrangeCones]

LOL Joel, but yes, anything to transfer some of your bacteria colony to the 29 gallon tank would help.

 

[FreshyFresh]

About a week into it and the little 10gal is gobbling up ammonia like a mofo and converting it to nitrites. I'll keep feeding it and wait for the magical nitrates.

Word to self... SELF? It's not the best plan to fishless cycle two tanks at once.. DUH?

Joel