JRunyon21

I am currently going through with my first fishless cycle. I added X amount of Ammonia until I got 5ppm on my Ammonia test. I have added X amount everyday since then. The recipe says to monitor my Nitrite levels each day until I see a Nitrite spike. After that I should cut the amount of Ammonia in half and add that each day. While doing so it says I should test all params until Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, and I have significant Nitrates. Do a water change and my tank is cycled.

First.
Does this seem like a good method?

Second.
What is defined as a Nitrite spike. A couple of methods say that the Nitrite will all of sudden go very high. Others say it will gradually go up. What should I expect? How should I know when to cut the Ammonia in half.

Lucy

Hi JRunyon21, If i haven't said it before, Welcome to Fish Lore

First off, congrats on doing a fish less cycle!

Yes, it sounds like you are doing it correctly, providing you are using pure ammonia with no additives.

Sorry, I can't answer your second question, only state the obvious, you will know what the spike is when your next test shows it is decreasing.

Good luck, your patience will pay off with healthier fish!

capekate

First: sounds great.

second:
I was looking through my log from the time I cycled my 55g fishless. I didnt add any ammonia to the tank so wouldnt have the quick readings of ammonia that you may have by using pure ammonia.
But what I found was the gradual rise in ammonia levels from 0 to .25, then .50. Until I reached .50 I had no nitrite readings. After I reached .50, I started to read nitrite 1.0. When the ammonia was at 1.00+ I had a nitrite reading of 2.0, a nitrate reading of 20. Two days later the ammonia went to zero, nitrate spiked to 40 and nitrite was around 2.0+
It took 5 days of these readings til the test showed 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 40. I then started my water changes in preparation of fish.
So I can say that I saw a spike in nitrites from 1.0- 2.0+ . Once the ammonia was at zero, the nitrites dropped to 2.0 then to 1.0, then zero after five days.
As far as when you should cut your ammonia down to half, I would say maybe when you start to see nitrite reading.
Hope this wasnt all confusing.. its easier here while I look at my log book and I hope I didnt confuse you anymore...

JRunyon21

Thanks to both. No Confusion. I guess it is more or less a decision based on individual experince. Some tanks deal with Ammonia and Nitrites slower or faster than others.

Thanks again!!