Fishless Cycling w/ Ammonia

Hey guys! Yesterday I started dosing my aquarium with pure Ammonia and Fluval Cycle (beneficial bacteria). I already have a bacterial bloom today. I dosed my water to about 3-4ppm because I plan to add a good amount of fish at once. My one question is do I keep adding ammonia every single day to keep it at that 3-4 ppm range until ammonia and nitrites go to 0 in 24 hours or do I wait until the ammonia drops below 0.5 ppm to add more ammonia to bring it up to 4ppm again? I’ve heard mixed answers from people who say it’s good to add everyday to keep it at that 4 ppm level but I’ve also heard that some people bring it back down to 2 ppm as a maintenance ammonia dose until the tank can cycle that in 24 hours? Any help would be appreciated I’m super excited to start this new adventure.

 

So nitrites are blue again. They convert from 3.0 ppm to 0 in 48 hours. Saturday is the only day I can get fish for another 2 weeks. Do you think I would be safe if I dosed it tonight to like 2.0 ppm and if it was 0 tomorrow I would be okay to get fish on Saturday?

I'm not comfortable recommending fish yet. The fact that your nitrites are going up and down like this tells me this cycle isn't done. Should you decide to go ahead and add fish just be sure to keep and eye on the numbers and do water changes as needed to keep the fish safe.

 

I'm not comfortable recommending fish yet. The fact that your nitrites are going up and down like this tells me this cycle isn't done. Should you decide to go ahead and add fish just be sure to keep and eye on the numbers and do water changes as needed to keep the fish safe.

I’m just going to wait. I don’t want to be selfish

 

Hey mattgirl can you give me some guidance on acclimating fish, shrimp, and snails? I will be buying from my local aquarium store. I’ve heard that breather bags can suffocate them if floated for temperature acclimation. I live in Southern California so it’s not freezing cold here and they will just be in my car. I was going going to put the shrimp in a container and drip acclimate but do I need to float the bag for the temperature change or anything or will the gradual drip be enough temperature acclimation. Also is it the same process with snails and fish? Putting them in a separate container or can I just slowly add water into the bag?

 

If you are getting your water pets from a local store I don't think they will be in breather bags so that shouldn't have to be taken into account. I would put the shrimp in a container and drip acclimate them. Your thoughts on temp matching are correct. The dripping water should take care if that.

I do drip acclimate my mystery snails when I move them from one tank to another so basically do it the same for both shrimp and snails.The fish can be floated in the bag with water gradually added to the bag. This is where your turkey baster will come in handy. Use it to add water to the bag. Add a baster full of water to the bag and pull a baster full out. Discard the water you pull out. Do this every few minutes for at least 30 minutes. By doing it this way very little store water will go in your tank when you just tip the bag over and let the fish swim out. It will save the fish from one more netting. The little guys have already gone through a lot.

 

If you are getting your water pets from a local store I don't think they will be in breather bags so that shouldn't have to be taken into account. I would put the shrimp in a container and drip acclimate them. Your thoughts on temp matching are correct. The dripping water should take care if that.

I do drip acclimate my mystery snails when I move them from one tank to another so basically do it the same for both shrimp and snails.The fish can be floated in the bag with water gradually added to the bag. This is where your turkey baster will come in handy. Use it to add water to the bag. Add a baster full of water to the bag and pull a baster full out. Discard the water you pull out. Do this every few minutes for at least 30 minutes. By doing it this way very little store water will go in your tank when you just tip the bag over and let the fish swim out. It will save the fish from one more netting. The little guys have already gone through a lot.

Thank you so much! Nitrites 0’d out in 24 hours! Did a water change and all of my parameters are perfect. On our way to get fish!

Thank you so much! Nitrites 0’d out in 24 hours! Did a water change and all of my parameters are perfect. On our way to get fish!

mattgirl thank you so much for all of your help. You are seriously awesome and have relieved a lot of my stress!

 

Thank you so much! Nitrites 0’d out in 24 hours! Did a water change and all of my parameters are perfect. On our way to get fish!

mattgirl thank you so much for all of your help. You are seriously awesome and have relieved a lot of my stress!

I am happy I was able to relieve some of your stress.

I should have mentioned earlier that it will be best to give this tank time to get firmly established before adding shrimp. They tend to do better when we have allowed a lot of bio-film to grow since it is food for them.

If you've already brought them home I will recommend you get a small container of Bacter AE. It is kinda expensive but a small container will last for a very long time. It provides a good source of food for your shrimp. I just add a tiny bit to my shrimp bowl after each weekly water change. The instructions recommend a spoon full of it (a tiny spoon comes with the food) but richiep let me know that is too much. I dip a bit out with the handle end of the spoon. I have a small glass vial. I add tank water and the Bacter AE to the vial, shake it well and pour it in the bowl.

 

I am happy I was able to relieve some of your stress.

I should have mentioned earlier that it will be best to give this tank time to get firmly established before adding shrimp. They tend to do better when we have allowed a lot of bio-film to grow since it is food for them.

If you've already brought them home I will recommend you get a small container of Bacter AE. It is kinda expensive but a small container will last for a very long time. It provides a good source of food for your shrimp. I just add a tiny bit to my shrimp bowl after each weekly water change. The instructions recommend a spoon full of it (a tiny spoon comes with the food) but richiep let me know that is too much. I dip a bit out with the handle end of the spoon. I have a small glass vial. I add tank water and the Bacter AE to the vial, shake it well and pour it in the bowl.

Perfect

 

I am happy I was able to relieve some of your stress.

I should have mentioned earlier that it will be best to give this tank time to get firmly established before adding shrimp. They tend to do better when we have allowed a lot of bio-film to grow since it is food for them.

If you've already brought them home I will recommend you get a small container of Bacter AE. It is kinda expensive but a small container will last for a very long time. It provides a good source of food for your shrimp. I just add a tiny bit to my shrimp bowl after each weekly water change. The instructions recommend a spoon full of it (a tiny spoon comes with the food) but richiep let me know that is too much. I dip a bit out with the handle end of the spoon. I have a small glass vial. I add tank water and the Bacter AE to the vial, shake it well and pour it in the bowl.

Awesome! Thank you so much! The store didn’t have any Amanos so maybe I’ll just wait!