Cycle stalled--what did I do wrong?

Hello!

My betta recently passed, so my tank has been fishless for about a week now. In that time, my cycle has apparently stalled, and I'm not too sure why. I've been giving the tank ~7 drops of ammonia every day; last time I gave some was a couple hours before testing. I also dumped in a cap of Stability a day or two ago. I was planning on changing the water out later today.

Here are my parameters:
Ammonia: 4.0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm

Any ideas?

 

Hello!

My betta recently passed, so my tank has been fishless for about a week now. In that time, my cycle has apparently stalled, and I'm not too sure why. I've been giving the tank ~7 drops of ammonia every day; last time I gave some was a couple hours before testing. I also dumped in a cap of Stability a day or two ago. I was planning on changing the water out later today.

Here are my parameters:
Ammonia: 4.0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm

Any ideas?

Hmm I’m not exactly sure to be honest. What’s your ph? I’ve heard ph that is extremely low can stall the cycle. I’m assuming there are nitrates in your tap? If it’s only been a week, you may just want to give things time to work themselves out. Even with stability, lots of fishless cycles take a while on the ammonia phase. Good luck!

 

Hello!

My betta recently passed, so my tank has been fishless for about a week now. In that time, my cycle has apparently stalled, and I'm not too sure why. I've been giving the tank ~7 drops of ammonia every day; last time I gave some was a couple hours before testing. I also dumped in a cap of Stability a day or two ago. I was planning on changing the water out later today.

Here are my parameters:
Ammonia: 4.0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm

Any ideas?

I agree, if the pH is below 6.5 or so it can slow the process down. If the tank was cycled it should still be cycled unless you used some kind of medication killed the bacteria. The bacteria would not have all died of in just a week.

I would change out no less than 75% of the water. Make sure you add your water conditioner and temp match the fresh water before pouring it in there. This water change should both raise the pH if necessary and get the ammonia down to a more reasonable level. Check the ammonia level after the water change. If you see some don't add any more. Run the test again tomorrow to see if it has gone back down to zero.

If all you had in this tank was the one little fish there would not be enough bacteria to clear out 4ppm ammonia and that would explain why it is so high.

 

Thank you for the replies!

My pH is actually pretty high--I tested it to be 7.8-8.0 as I was testing my other parameters, but I'm not sure if this is just because of the amount of ammonia. It's typically about 7.4, so I don't think it being too low is an issue.

Yes, there are nitrates in my tap--generally about the amount it gave, actually.

My tank was cycled for the whole two years I had him right up until the end; I had tested the water a day or two before he passed and my ammonia levels were completely fine.
I'm almost leaning along the lines of the last thing mattgirl pointed out; I suppose bettas do have a really low bioload, especially for a 10g. Looks like I'll be cycling the tank to get it re-used to 4 ppm for my next school of fish (leaning towards ember tetras right now).

 

Agree with Mattgirl large water change to reset nutrients to a lower level. What size tank do you have

 

What size tank do you have

10g

 

Thank you for the replies!

My pH is actually pretty high--I tested it to be 7.8-8.0 as I was testing my other parameters, but I'm not sure if this is just because of the amount of ammonia. It's typically about 7.4, so I don't think it being too low is an issue.

Yes, there are nitrates in my tap--generally about the amount it gave, actually.

My tank was cycled for the whole two years I had him right up until the end; I had tested the water a day or two before he passed and my ammonia levels were completely fine.
I'm almost leaning along the lines of the last thing mattgirl pointed out; I suppose bettas do have a really low bioload, especially for a 10g. Looks like I'll be cycling the tank to get it re-used to 4 ppm for my next school of fish (leaning towards ember tetras right now).

It is good that the pH level is up where it needs to be so we can mark that off the list of possible reasons for what we are seeing. Since you do have some bacteria in this tank that grew during the 2 years this tank has been running with your little guy in it, it shouldn't take as long to grow as much as you need than it would if you were starting with none,

You can of course grow enough bacteria to process 4 ppm ammonia if you want to but I really don't think it is necessary for a 10 gallon tank. I don't think you will be stocking it heavy enough the ever be able to produce that much ammonia. You really can't grow too much bacteria though. The extra will just eventually die off. If you are just planning on a school of ember tetras 2ppm ammonia should grow enough bacteria to process the ammonia they will produce.

 

I would dose ammonia to 2ppm for a 10g and smaller fish.

 

If you were going to be replacing the Betta within the next month I wouldn't have dosed anything. Maybe a pinch of fish food occasionally. No need for ammonia.

 

If you were going to be replacing the Betta within the next month I wouldn't have dosed anything. Maybe a pinch of fish food occasionally. No need for ammonia.

I agree but since she wants to add more than one fish having a bit more bacteria than just the one little guy's bio-load grew will prevent spikes once the new fish are added.

 

Hello again!

I've been doing a fishless cycle for the past week or so now and it's been doing pretty well; right now at takes about three days for 2ppm of ammonia to go down so I still have good amount of time to go but we're getting there. However, I've noticed something kind of odd--I don't have any nitrites? I've tested it every day the past couple days out of curiosity and it's always been 0. Is it possible that I have more nitrite-eating bacteria from my previous fish because they happened to carry over better than the ammonia-eating ones? I've heard of bacteria going dormant but I can't imagine they've been dormant for two years now.

I'm getting my nitrates now to see if they're actually converting over.

 

Hello again!

I've been doing a fishless cycle for the past week or so now and it's been doing pretty well; right now at takes about three days for 2ppm of ammonia to go down so I still have good amount of time to go but we're getting there. However, I've noticed something kind of odd--I don't have any nitrites? I've tested it every day the past couple days out of curiosity and it's always been 0. Is it possible that I have more nitrite-eating bacteria from my previous fish because they happened to carry over better than the ammonia-eating ones? I've heard of bacteria going dormant but I can't imagine they've been dormant for two years now.

I'm getting my nitrates now to see if they're actually converting over.

It isn't unusual for it to take 2 or even 3 weeks for nitrites to show up. If I am understanding correctly you are saying you are seeing nitrates. If so it is possible you do have nitrite eating bacteria but I would just give it more time.

 

It isn't unusual for it to take 2 or even 3 weeks for nitrites to show up. If I am understanding correctly you are saying you are seeing nitrates. If so it is possible you do have nitrite eating bacteria but I would just give it more time.

Update: Nitrites are sort of between 0 and 0.25? It has the slightest purple tint but not quite that lavender color 0.25ppm has. So, I guess I have some, just not a ton.
Definitely have more nitrates than usual--it's around 20-40ppm and it hasn't even been 5 minutes yet!