staring fishless cycle, made mistake

[fishlover25]

I am starting a new aquarium and am doing it with the fishless cycle. its a 10g tank. I add 1 tablespoon and waited an hour before testing. When I did test it, from the kit, i got that it had about 1ppm. So then I added 2 more tablespoons since 1 seemed to get me about 1ppm and that would at least increase it up to 3ppm if not a little more.

While I was doing that, I did not throw away the tested water. When i was going to dump it, i saw that it was darker, meaning it was at a higher ppm. I looked and it was at about 4ppm.

So now that i have about 3 times the dose I needed, should I just let it be as it is now or do a water change? If i should do a water change, how much should I change?

 

[Airborneguy]

Leave it be... we went through this with a guy recently who had ZERO patience. Just leave it be and test again in a few days. I would wait at least 4-5.

 

[fishlover25]

thanks Airbroneguy. I was just worried that maybe too much ammonia would actually kill the bacteria and would not let them thrive but if its ok, I'll wait it out. I'll wait till Sunday to check again

 

[Airborneguy]

Too much is bad, but yours shouldn't be all that high. I started my last fishless cycle at 8ppm accidentally, and the tank cycled in about 3 weeks, but that's because I had patience and didn't change anything. Hold tight and you won't regret it!

 

[fishlover25]

Its been a few days over a week now that I have my tank running. I did about 2 70% water changes to bring the ammonia down and now it is in the 2-3ppm range. I am going to leave it there for now.

But I have yet to see any decrease in the ammonia by itself nor have I seen any nitrites yet. Any idea what else I could do, other than seeding the tank?

 

[fishlover25]

ok well i tested for nirite today and it was at .25 ppm but the ammonia level remained the same. i thought that for the nitrite to appear ammonia had to be at 0? or is my situation common also?

 

[emmanuelchavez]

it doesn't have to be 0.
just give it time. no more water changes, and just sit back and relax for the next day or two.

 

[fishlover25]

ok well my tank hasnt cycled yet. My ammonia keeps dropping to about .5ppm every 2-3 days but my nitrite is stayin at 5ppm. It has not gone down after increasein. It has been about a week and a half since its gone up that high. What should be my next step?

 

[Lotus]

Nitrites will stay high for a week or two, then drop very fast. You're doing fine!

 

[nrstype]

as everyone is saying, it takes as long as it takes, everyone here is dead on what occurs, & when. If there is no livestock in the tank, relax. I wouldn't even do the 70% water changes, esp if there is NO livestock to worry about. Just gives the bacteria that "eats" the stuff, more to eat. (BUFFET STYLE, ALL THEY CAN EAT!)

One time, you'll be looking at nitrites off the chart, then a few days later, "Hey.. Where did they go, they are at zero, and ammonia is at Zero, and my nitrates are climbing." THEN.. do a water change, and start stocking SLOWLY with fish and inverts.

 

[fishlover25]

i only did the water change once because the ammonia was not dropping at all. i know i shouldn't do the water change because that is basically taking out the ammonia. but that water change actually helped. it made the cycle start.

 

[fishlover25]

I checked my ammonia and nitrite today and both were at 0. I will not be able to go to the petstore for a few more days so what is it that I should do the day before or the day of when i go buy the fish?

 

[Lotus]

Just do a largish water change (50 to 70 percent) and rinse the filter out in some old tank water. It would be a good idea to test again a few hours after the water change, or before you go to the store, just to make sure. Then, you should be good to add fish.