Ammonia Not Converting To Nitrite Yet

[Ben Foster]

Hello again, I have had my 20 gallon for 5 days now and started the cycle 4 days ago. I got my ammonia to 8 ppm on Saturday, and have added API quick start every day since. I am still at 8 or possibly more ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 0 nitrate. Is this normal? If so, how long should it take?

 

[Tsukkomu]

8ppm ammonia is A LOT. be sure you're detoxifying it with Seachem Prime. toxic ammonia and nitrite actually really hinder your cycle. Seachem Prime detoxifies them and puts them in a state readily consumed by the beneficial bacteria. high levels of toxic ammonia and nitrite can definitely screw up your cycle. always detoxify it.

 

[Ben Foster]

8ppm ammonia is A LOT. be sure you're detoxifying it with Seachem Prime. toxic ammonia and nitrite actually really hinder your cycle. Seachem Prime detoxifies them and puts them in a state readily consumed by the beneficial bacteria. high levels of toxic ammonia and nitrite can definitely screw up your cycle. always detoxify it.

Oh shoot. Makes sense, thanks.

 

[Tsukkomu]

Oh shoot. Makes sense, thanks.

also, Seachem Prime is only recommended to detoxify 5x the original 1x dose. anything higher than 5x the dose starts to deplete your oxygen. make sure you have an air store for gas exchange....I suppose if there is no fish in your tank you could add extra Prime, up to 8x. but this will deplete the oxygen for the beneficial bacteria.

I would do a large water change, maybe 75% to try and get it closer to 2ppm-3ppm. detoxify with prime...and you're good to go. google 'ammonia aquarium cycle calculator' and you will find calculators to input your volume, your % of the ammonia you bought will go into account....and it will tell you in drops and mL's how much to add to reach a target ammonia ppm.

 

[mattgirl]

Is this a fishless cycle? If I were you I would do a water change to get the ammonia lower. I doesn't need to be that high and that much may overwhelm the bottled bacteria you are adding. I would get it down to no higher than about 3 ppm.

If this is a fishless cycle there is no reason to use prime to detox the ammonia. You cycle needs it to grow but it doesn't need to be as high as it is right now.

 

[Ben Foster]

Is this a fishless cycle? If I were you I would do a water change to get the ammonia lower. I doesn't need to be that high and that much may overwhelm the bottled bacteria you are adding. I would get it down to no higher than about 3 ppm.

If this is a fishless cycle there is no reason to use prime to detox the ammonia. You cycle needs it to grow but it doesn't need to be as high as it is right now.

I am fishless cycling. So no prime? Just water change?

 

[Tsukkomu]

I am fishes cycling. So no prime? Just water change?

I was told by seachem directly to detoxify the ammonia as a safety. As long as it’s not too high and there are no fish you should be okay. However, I used prime when I was fishless cycling and I cycled in 5 days.....after 5 days I was cycling the added ammonia to nitrate in less than 24 hours.

Of course seachem could of told me that to sell me an additional product. Who knows. I personally believe it helps. It says right on the bottle it helps put ammonia and nitrite into a safe form the beneficial bacteria to consume. However, I’m sure tons of people have fishless cycled without prime.

 

[GabeC]

Always use prime for your water changes. Just do a massive water change, and then see what your ammonia reading is. Dose the tank to about 4ppm max.

 

[Tsukkomu]

Always use prime for your water changes. Just do a massive water change, and then see what your ammonia reading is. Dose the tank to about 4ppm max.

my thoughts exactly.

 

[GabeC]

Personally, I wouldn’t even bother with the “quick start” type products. They don’t know that much time off of the cycle process. Just my two-cents worth.

 

[Tsukkomu]

Personally, I wouldn’t even bother with the “quick start” type products. They don’t know that much time off of the cycle process. Just my two-cents worth.

I respectively disagree. I fishless cycled with seachem stability and prime and watched ammonia and nitrite rise and fall, leveling out as 0 and growing ppm for nitrates in 5 days flat.

It would of taken weeks and weeks doing a fishless with ‘nature’ and no seachem stability.

 

[mattgirl]

I am fishless cycling. So no prime? Just water change?

If you have chlorine in your source water you will need to add Prime or any of the many water conditioners to the water you are adding but you don't need to detox the ammonia during a fishless cycle..

 

[rainbowsprinkles]

If your tap is low in iron adding a dose of flourish or other plant ferts can speed up the growth of bacteria and get your cycle unstuck. I noticed this in my tanks and there is research to back it up.for me more effective than adding bottled bacteria..

 

[Ben Foster]

also, Seachem Prime is only recommended to detoxify 5x the original 1x dose. anything higher than 5x the dose starts to deplete your oxygen. make sure you have an air store for gas exchange....I suppose if there is no fish in your tank you could add extra Prime, up to 8x. but this will deplete the oxygen for the beneficial bacteria.

I would do a large water change, maybe 75% to try and get it closer to 2ppm-3ppm. detoxify with prime...and you're good to go. google 'ammonia aquarium cycle calculator' and you will find calculators to input your volume, your % of the ammonia you bought will go into account....and it will tell you in drops and mL's how much to add to reach a target ammonia ppm.

I went to my local pet smart, couldn’t find prime so I settled for the imagitarium version. Did the water change like you said, added the dechlorinated water and detoxified the ammonia. Worked like a charm. Ammonia at 4 ppm now. thank you so much. Should I aI'm lower or is this alright?

If your tap is low in iron adding a dose of flourish or other plant ferts can speed up the growth of bacteria and get your cycle unstuck. I noticed this in my tanks and there is research to back it up.for me more effective than adding bottled bacteria..

I do not have live plants. I don’t think my cycle is/was stuck, just too much ammonia.

If you have chlorine in your source water you will need to add Prime or any of the many water conditioners to the water you are adding but you don't need to detox the ammonia during a fishless cycle..

I had way too much ammonia though. Would that not overwhelm the nitrosomonas bacteria ?

Always use prime for your water changes. Just do a massive water change, and then see what your ammonia reading is. Dose the tank to about 4ppm max.

Is API stress coat and/or stress zyme okay? I hope so lol.

 

[mattgirl]

Is this a fishless cycle? If I were you I would do a water change to get the ammonia lower. I doesn't need to be that high and that much may overwhelm the bottled bacteria you are adding. I would get it down to no higher than about 3 ppm.

If this is a fishless cycle there is no reason to use prime to detox the ammonia. You cycle needs it to grow but it doesn't need to be as high as it is right now.

I had way too much ammonia though. Would that not overwhelm the nitrosomonas bacteria ?

That is why my first recommendation was a water change to get the ammonia level down to at least 2 to 3 ppm.

 

[Ben Foster]

That is why my first recommendation was a water change to get the ammonia level down to at least 2 to 3 ppm.

Ok. I think that’s where it’s at right now. I’ll check when I get home and probably update this. Thanks.