New tank cycling question

[bmerry]

I'm looking for some advice. I recently set up a new 30 gal freshwater tank and I'm currently trying to cycle it. Initially I bought / used stress zyme before I read a lot of negative posts about it. After reading the posts I bought some pure ammonia and added enough to bring the level up to 5ppm and have continued to add that amount daily. It has been over a week now and the nitrite levels are still zero but it appears I'm starting to get a little color on the nitrate test strip??? The tank is at roughly 85 degrees and I have a filter running in it. Everything I read says the nitrite levels should start to rise in a few days. Should I just relax and wait longer or is there something I'm doing wrong? The only thing I can think of is I have too much ammonia since the green color on the test strip doesn't come close to matching the color chart on the bottle.

 

[JWright]

Don't keep adding ammonia if the ammonia level isn't going down. Just make sure the level is at 5 ppm every morning, and add more if it isn't. You will need to do some big water changes to get the ammonia back down to a reasonable level.

Other than that, you're doing just fine. Keep the faith.

~JW

 

[MissFishy]

Also, make sure you are using dechlorinator, if you don't treat the water, that can kill off beneficial bacteria.

 

[bmerry]

Thanks for the help. I should have mentioned that I did use the dechlorinator. I'm going to do a large water change since I think my ammonia level is above 5ppm. It's really hard to tell with the test strips I bought. Guess I better pick up some new ones. Thanks again

 

[JWright]

I would recommend picking up some "drop-based" test kits (you put some tank water in a vial and add x number of drops of the reagent). They are _much_ easier to read, and generally much more accurate.

~JW

 

[bmerry]

I picked up a liquid test kit and was surprised to find I was at 5ppm. The test strips I had are really bad. Anyway, now after 2 weeks I'm finally starting to see the Nitrate level increase (now at .2 ppm). Also included in the test kit is a pH test. Right now it's at 7.6. Is this a problem? Should I try to get it down to about 7.0? Thanks.

 

[JWright]

7.6 is just fine. My water runs 8.0-8.2, and I never bother fiddling with it. Stable is much more important than "perfect"

Sounds like you're on the right track. Keep it up...

~JW