Cycling questions...

[jdavenp3]

Ok, here is the situation.

I started my tank up with rock that had been sitting in saltwater w/ no flow for a while (probably dead), dead sand, and I freshwater scrubbed the rocks before I put them in the tank.

I dosed MicroBacter7 per instructions to initiate the cycle and bacteria phase. After a month of total dosing and cycling, with no water changes, I checked the parameters. Everything was 0 (trate, trite, and ammonia). I figured that I was pretty much cleared in the cycle. Therefore, I started implementing my water change schedule two week ago (8g per week). After the first water change all parameters were still in the 0-0-0 area.

However, today I changed my water on schedule. Checked my parameters and everything were through the roof. Ammonia at 1ppm, nitrite at 5 ppm, and nitrate a 100+ ppm.

Did I have a false cycle, or never go through the cycle at all and the nitrogen cycle has just begun? Should I do another water change to help lower levels some or let it run for a week and see if things level themselves out?

Side note- running purigen, using rodi water, no inhabitants in the tank

 

[rdnelson]

You never had a cycle. With no ammonia source the bacteria had nothing to feed on and there for did not colonize. This proven by the 0 nitrates even before doing water changes. Had it cycled, you would have had nitrates.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rdnelson]

Wait into the ammonia and nitrite both hit 0 then do water changes until you get nitrates as close to 0 as you can.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jdavenp3]

Kind of what I figured. I assumed that the bacterial die off from the rock would have initiated the cycle. Apparently not.

These readings do mean that I am currently in the nitrogen cycle though, correct?

 

[rdnelson]

I would think so since you are reading 100 on the nitrates. I wouldn't do any water changes until after ammonia and nitrite hit 0. Let the bacteria remove it not the water changes.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jdavenp3]

10-4, sounds good to me. All of the tanks I ever set up before was used with live rock/sand and the cycle was minimum so I never have had to deal with this. Just reassuring myself that I am on the right track and do not need to take any steps that I might be missing.

Sucks I cant get some fish, at least there are some feather dusters I can watch until then.

 

[rdnelson]

LOL. Remember, only bad things happen fast.

I think you are close though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jimmystephens]

+1 good advice. Just hurry up and wait

 

[jdavenp3]

Yeah. I was planning on another 3 weeks before livestock went in anyways. So if it has cycled through then good deal, if not I will just keep on trucking.

I have finally been able to dedicate a lot of time to a tank so I am not going to try and cut corners.