goggles2

well im about 2 weeks into a fishless cycle and so far im not seeing much of a change in levels

ammonia is about 0.50 ppm

nitrites is 0 ppm

nitrates is 5 mg/L which is roughly the same as tap water

im using fish food to feed the tank (yea i know phosphates) and using seachem prime for water conditioner as well seachem stability

the temp is about 83 fahrenheit (ive heard this can help your cycle along)

ive also added some media from an established tank

the problem here is ammonia levels keep climbing nitrite stays at zero and nitrate remains the same as tap water


any ideas guys?

Shawnie

I didnt use any conditioners when cycleing fishless...maybe thats doing something? also, what test kit are you using?

Alessa

I would stop using stability... as we dont really know if it contains the right type of bacteria needed to start your cycle...

Dont change the water unless the ammonia goes above 3.

I would actually still use the conditioner. (although something else, not prime) because the chlorine in your tap might kill the bacteria.

Maybe, and just maybe, I would add a bit of fish food to the water. It contains phosphates, and there have been recent discussions that come to the understanding that phospates might be needed to start a cycle.

Lucy

I used water conditioner, but not one that detoxifies ammonia. I used Stress Coat. I cycled with ammonia, not fish food.

I don't know what seachem stability is, but possibly that's what's causing the problem?

goggles2

im using a API for my nitrite and ammonia and Hagen for my nitrate all are dropper test kits no strips

and yes i am "feeding" my tank with fish food already

do test kits expire? my nitrite one is about 7 years old could that be part of my problem?

could thier be something killing my bacteria? perhaps conditoner?

Shawnie

look at each of your bottles..at the top theres a lot number...the first two are the month it expiers and the last two are the year...and yes they do expire ...id say 7 years is time for an update!

goggles2

stability is a "seeder" similar to safe start and biospira

goggles2

blast! i thought that might be the problem

my nitrate one is good for a long while
my ph tester is dead
my nitrite one is DEFINATELY dead

i cant decifer my ammonia one

my ammonia one says "lot no. 83B0108" on bottle one and "lot no. 840108" on the
second bottle

so sometime this year? but what time? "83" is not a month

Alessa

Stability is probably similar to cycle, which contains the terrestrial form of the bacteria, which dies off and releases the ammonia back. I would stop using it and change the water conditioner to a small bottle of something basic like aqua+ by hagen.

Shawnie

ammonia expired 0108 so maybe getting the new kit might give you better answers..or maybe worse..ill keep my fingers crossed!

goggles2

grrrr first im recommended by this forum that i use prime now im told its bad?

yes new test kits are in order

Shawnie

prime is used to neutralize ammonia and detoxify chlorine when you have fish or are doing a fish cycle...its great after you have the tank established and doing your water changes ....and helps save fish when one cycles with them...it doesnt kill the ammonia or get rid of it..just makes it less toxic for fish in the cycle process..

goggles2

so prime is good for a fish cycle and for water changes but not for fishless cycle?

kills the bacteria?

Lucy

It doesn't kill bacteria, it detoxifies the ammonia for 24 hrs.
Bacteria needs ammonia to feed off of.

You were advised to use Prime when you were cycling with goldfish.

goggles2

yes i was your right however i did not know that condtioner was not good when doing fishless

goggles2

hmmmm i got a brand new API master test kit today and these are my results

ph 7.4

ammonia between 0.25 and 0.50 ppm hard to say

nitrites 0 ppm

nitrates between 0 and 5.0 ppm hard to say also

tank has been cycling about 3 weeks now

to me this says cycle has not started

what do you guys think?

goggles2

anyone? i wanna hear your opinions

what could be the problem?

Lucy

Are you still using fishfood to cycle?
Are you still using Stability?
At what point do you test your water?
Have you tested your tap water?