Back To A Fishless Cycle

How can I help my tank to cycle from here?

Ph 7.2
High Range Ph 7.4
Ammonia 2.0ppm
Nitrite 0.50ppm
Nitrate.5.0ppm

 

Since you have Nitrites and nitrates, I'd say your cycle is underway.
1. I'd test ammonia everyday until it drops to 0.5ppm and dose again to 2ppm.
2. I'd then dose ammonia every other day until you see nitrites getting over 4ppm.
3. I'd do a 30 %wC to maintain Nitrites just under 4ppm and test ammonia everyday.
4. When you see Nitrites going to zero, I'd check to see if 2ppm ammonia is going to zero in 24 hrs.
5. At any point, if nitrates get above 40ppm, I'd do a wc.

Keeping water temp at 26-28c would help cycle factor. Seeding with cycled filter media or bottle back would also.

Does that help?

 

I am sorry to hear that you got off to such a rocky start. Just know that you aren't the first and sadly won't be the last to get bad advice from the fine folks at a fish store.

How can I help my tank to cycle from here?

Ph 7.2
High Range Ph 7.4
Ammonia 2.0ppm
Nitrite 0.50ppm
Nitrate.5.0ppm

These are some pretty good looking numbers for now. The most important thing right now is adding ammonia. The fish were adding it but now that they are gone you will have to add it. Some folks do use fish food but there is a better way.

You can either get a bottle of Dr Tim's ammonium chloride (kinda expensive) or buy an inexpensive bottle of janitorial ammonia. Folks have found it at places like Ace Hardware but it can be found at other places. You just want to be sure it is pure ammonia. You don't want one with any kind of additives to make it smell or clean better. If you shake it and it doesn't foam it should be fine.

With your ammonia already at 2ppm you have a few days to give you time to find the ammonia. It will be time to start adding ammonia when what's in the tank drops to zero.

I know you have Prime but if you have a another water conditioner you may want to consider using it when water changes become necessary during this cycle. Once the cycle is complete and you start adding fish you can start using your Prime again but it is not needed during a fishless cycle.

We can get you through this and before you know it you will have a tank safe for fish.

 

Thank you! I'll be testing my ammonia every day to see when I need to add more.

 

Thank you! I'll be testing my ammonia every day to see when I need to add more.

You are so very welcome. If you have more questions I will try my best to answer them.

 

So 2 days ago I did a 50% water change and it cut the ammonia in half down to a 2.0ppm. It hasn't changed at all. Everything else has different numbers then last time.

Today readings:
PH 7.2
High Range PH 7.4
Ammonia 2.0ppm
Nitrite 1.0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm

Last Reading 2 days ago:

PH 7.2
High Range PH 7.4
Ammonia 2.0 ppm
Nitrite 0.50 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

 

If your nitrite is increasing, then your first colony of bacteria is beginning to establish itself. It helps to know your water parameters from your tap after off-gassing for a day for comparison. All you have to do now is keep those bacteria fed with ammonia and wait for the second bacteria that processes nitrite to develop. It generally takes twice as long for the second colony of bacteria to get established. Sounds like you are well on your way! The hardest part from here on out will probably be waiting for the cycle to finish! Also, no need for water changes unless one of your parameters goes “off the charts.”

 

So 2 days ago I did a 50% water change and it cut the ammonia in half down to a 2.0ppm. It hasn't changed at all. Everything else has different numbers then last time.

Today readings:
PH 7.2
High Range PH 7.4
Ammonia 2.0ppm
Nitrite 1.0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm

Last Reading 2 days ago:

PH 7.2
High Range PH 7.4
Ammonia 2.0 ppm
Nitrite 0.50 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

Not sure what you have in the tank currently, but I’ve always felt putting in live plants from the start helps. You get the benefit of healthy bacteria hitch-hiking from your LFS.