Fishless Cycle not starting?

Started a 10 gallon tank on august 1st its planted, has a seachem tidal 35 filter, stays around 74 temp. I also used some API QuickStart. I’m doing fishless cycle and I’ve been adding in flakes everyday, and testing for ammonia everyday with the API master test kit. It’s hard to tell if it’s showing up as .25ppm or 0. But there is definitely food in the tank. Does the ammonia take time to show up or is there a problem? Am I doing something wrong?

 

You have live plants that will eat up that ammonia. Food method works, but isn't as controlled or measurable as dosing ammonia. It will eventually build up to a decent level, just be patient.

 

Okay, should I keep adding in more flakes or let it be? there’s already a good amount in there.

 

Yes the ammonia takes time to show up. The water was drinkable and free of life before this, the food won't really break down and decay until that bacteria is established to do it, once that happens ammonification happens then you can work through nitrification of the ammonia. Food is one of the slowest methods of cycling because you are going to have to wait for the decay bacteria before you start getting ammonia to then work on the nitrifiers.

With the plants it should speed up decay bacteria growth and even give you some nitrifiers, but plants use nitrogen and will take it in any form, nitrate, nitrite or ammonia, whatever is available.
Like was said cycling is about patience, it's gonna take a while, a long while. Just keep on pinching food in there like you have been, the plants will use what they can and the excess will build up and feed the nitrifiers and it will cycle.

 

Started a 10 gallon tank on august 1st its planted, has a seachem tidal 35 filter, stays around 74 temp. I also used some API QuickStart. I’m doing fishless cycle and I’ve been adding in flakes everyday, and testing for ammonia everyday with the API master test kit. It’s hard to tell if it’s showing up as .25ppm or 0. But there is definitely food in the tank. Does the ammonia take time to show up or is there a problem? Am I doing something wrong?

Rather than continuing to add fish food every day, I’d give the food you’ve already added some time to decompose. Give it a few days and maybe test the ammonia level on Sunday or Monday.

As mentioned in the post above, it’s hard to control the ammonia level or reach a targeted ammonia level using fish flakes. Have you considered using Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride?

 

did not realize the food would take that long to break down! Thank you. I did read up on adding pure ammonia but not too much. Would it be easier and faster? And I think I read the ammonia level should be around 5ppm for cycling, Or is that too much?

 

did not realize the food would take that long to break down! Thank you. I did read up on adding pure ammonia but not too much. Would it be easier and faster? And I think I read the ammonia level should be around 5ppm for cycling, Or is that too much?

Pure ammonia (unscented and no surfactants) has been very hard to find, that’s why I asked if you considered Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride.

Pure ammonia or Dr. Tim’s is only faster because it provides an ammonia source immediately, rather than having to wait for fish food to decompose. More importantly IMO, pure ammonia or Dr. Tim’s allows us to more precisely control the level of ammonia being added to the tank.

5 ppm is unnecessary. . . I’d suggest 2 ppm.

P.S. Don’t rush the cycling process. . . We’ve seen countless cycling attempts fail as a result of impatience. Because you’re sort of starting from scratch, expect the cycling process to take 4 - 6 weeks.

 

did not realize the food would take that long to break down! Thank you. I did read up on adding pure ammonia but not too much. Would it be easier and faster? And I think I read the ammonia level should be around 5ppm for cycling, Or is that too much?

Finding cleaning ammonia without any scents or surfactants is hard these days. Dr timms ammonium chloride, fritz fishless fuel (or their powdered version) are good to use. 2-4ppm is recommended, more can stall it out. Edit: beaten

 

Okay, I’ll go look at my fish store to see if they have it or I’ll order it online. Would it be a good idea to wait a little bit to see where my ammonia ends up testing before using it?

Pure ammonia (unscented and no surfactants) has been very hard to find, that’s why I asked if you considered Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride.

Pure ammonia or Dr. Tim’s is only faster because it provides an ammonia source immediately, rather than having to wait for fish food to decompose. More importantly IMO, pure ammonia or Dr. Tim’s allows us to more precisely control the level of ammonia being added to the tank.

5 ppm is unnecessary. . . I’d suggest 2 ppm.

P.S. Don’t rush the cycling process. . . We’ve seen countless cycling attempts fail as a result of impatience. Because you’re sort of starting from scratch, expect the cycling process to take 4 - 6 weeks.

And yes I am being very careful with cycling never did small tanks before so it’s been much more forgiving for me. So taking my time and being extra cautious with the 10 gallon.

 

Okay, I’ll go look at my fish store to see if they have it or I’ll order it online. Would it be a good idea to wait a little bit to see where my ammonia ends up testing before using it?

Yes, I’d leave things alone and test again on Sunday or Monday before adding anything else.

If you get Dr. Tim’s. . . I think some folks have overdosed the intended ammonia level when following the instructions that come with Dr. Tim’s.

So, I’d suggest adding half of the recommended dose to get your tank to 2 ppm. Test the ammonia level 30 minutes or so after adding half of the recommended dose and add more if necessary.

 

Yes, I’d leave things alone and test again on Sunday or Monday before adding anything else.

If you get Dr. Tim’s. . . I think some folks have overdosed the intended ammonia level when following the instructions that come with Dr. Tim’s.

So, I’d suggest adding half of the recommended dose to get your tank to 2 ppm. Test the ammonia level 30 minutes or so after adding half of the recommended dose and add more if necessary.

Thanks for the help!

 

Thanks for the help!

You’re welcome.

Let us know what your test result is on Sunday or Monday.

Good luck!

 

Oh, forgot to ask, should I be concerned with cleaning the filter during cycle?

 

Oh, forgot to ask, should I be concerned with cleaning the filter during cycle?

Nope, there shouldn’t be a need to clean the filter.

 

Don't clean anything while cycling.

 

Okay, so I tested today and ammonia is still looking low. Below .25 no question. I still see food in the tank. I checked with the fish store and they do not have any ammonia products. Any suggestions to help start the cycle better?

 

You could try a people food frozen shrimp.

 

Does that method start to smell eventually?

 

Does that method start to smell eventually?

I would think so myself. I was just saying another alternative to fish food that people use.

 

Haha I’ve used a shrimp before and was totally fine with it when it was not in my room! I think I’ll just go ahead and order the Dr. Tims ammonium chloride. Seems much easier and controlled.

 

I’ll just go ahead and order the Dr. Tims ammonium chloride. Seems much easier and controlled.

Good choice!

 

Okay just got dr Tim’s, put it in and ended up here, I’m probably sitting a little under the dosage amount which was about 32 drops for my tank. It came out fast in the beginning so I wasn’t able to count how many drops it was so I made sure to be a little safer and try to go less. Is this good ammonia amount or should I add a little more? When I hold it right up to the sun it’s a little lighter then the 2.0 color, but looks close regardless. What’s your guys thoughts?

 

Okay just got dr Tim’s, put it in and ended up here, I’m probably sitting a little under the dosage amount which was about 32 drops for my tank. It came out fast in the beginning so I wasn’t able to count how many drops it was so I made sure to be a little safer and try to go less. Is this good ammonia amount or should I add a little more? When I hold it right up to the sun it’s a little lighter then the 2.0 color, but looks close regardless. What’s your guys thoughts?

Looks good to me. . . No need to add more.

 

Tested today and looks like the cycle is complete? Zero ammonia, zero nitrite, looks like around 5 nitrate, ph looks like 7.0-7.2. I’ll have to clean the tank up cause it has a lot of algae in it right now but where do I go from here. Add a fish? I’ve also been reading up on kh, gh, and tds. Since I only use RODI water from my lfs, do I need to start testing for that stuff and potentially start mixing tap water or just dosing it with something?

 

Tested today and looks like the cycle is complete? Zero ammonia, zero nitrite, looks like around 5 nitrate, ph looks like 7.0-7.2. I’ll have to clean the tank up cause it has a lot of algae in it right now but where do I go from here. Add a fish? I’ve also been reading up on kh, gh, and tds. Since I only use RODI water from my lfs, do I need to start testing for that stuff and potentially start mixing tap water or just dosing it with something?

Hi how did it go?

 

Hi how did it go?

Good! I’ve had some algae problems and currently dealing with cyanobacteria but have gotten help from everyone here. Have one betta and two snails in there right now and they’re doing good!

 

Good! I’ve had some algae problems and currently dealing with cyanobacteria but have gotten help from everyone here. Have one betta and two snails in there right now and they’re doing good!

Wow I just started mine a 5 gallon tank on September 15 and I did a dark start method no plants just filter and also no lights. I always get the same reading of ammonia like a 0.25 or 0 and I have nitrates. Dunno if it ever cycled because by September 27, the tank became cloudy I'm stuck and don't know what to do. Maybe I would plant it now to kick start the cycle

 

Wow I just started mine a 5 gallon tank on September 15 and I did a dark start method no plants just filter and also no lights. I always get the same reading of ammonia like a 0.25 or 0 and I have nitrates. Dunno if it ever cycled because by September 27, the tank became cloudy I'm stuck and don't know what to do. Maybe I would plant it now to kick start the cycle

I’d use ammonium chloride if you aren’t sure, it has really accurate results and made it super easy to cycle, plants help though from what I’ve heard