New Tank Cycle Help Please

Hi all, thanks for letting me join.
I started to cycle my new tank (Fluval Roma 200) on Sunday 09/01/22 and am unsure what is happening, I'm a bit confused by some of the readings.
I am aiming for 4ppm ammonia. I am using the NT Labs liquid test kit. The tank has a sand substrate, 3x Redmoor wood, Dragon stone and a few pebbles holding down the wood.
09/01/2022
Dr. Tim's added 3ml. (I now know this was not enough to reach 4ppm)
10/01/2022
Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0.5 Nitrate - 1.0 PH - 8.0
11/01/2022
Dr Tim's added 12ml
Ammonia - 5.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0
PH - 8.0
12/01/2022 (AM)
Ammonia - 2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 80.0
PH - 8.0
12/01/2022 (PM)
Ammonia - 2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 80.0
PH - 8.0
12/01/2022 (PM After 20% Water Change)
Ammonia - 1.0-2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0-80.0
PH - 8.0
13/01/2022 (AM)
Ammonia - 1.0-2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0-80.0
PH - 8.0
13/01/2022 (PM)
Dr. Tims's added 5ml
Ammonia - 4.0-5.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0-80.0
PH - 8.0
14/01/2022
Ammonia - 4.0-5.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 80.0
PH - 8.0

My questions are has my cycle stalled? Did I add too much ammonia? Should I do another water change to bring down the Nitrates?

I was surprised to see a nitrite and nitrate reading so early on especially as I have not added anything from my other tank. It would be nice to know if the cycle is going in the right direction.

TIA

 

Hi all, thanks for letting me join.
I started to cycle my new tank (Fluval Roma 200) on Sunday 09/01/22 and am unsure what is happening, I'm a bit confused by some of the readings.
I am aiming for 4ppm ammonia. I am using the NT Labs liquid test kit. The tank has a sand substrate, 3x Redmoor wood, Dragon stone and a few pebbles holding down the wood.
09/01/2022
Dr. Tim's added 3ml. (I now know this was not enough to reach 4ppm)
10/01/2022
Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0.5 Nitrate - 1.0 PH - 8.0
11/01/2022
Dr Tim's added 12ml
Ammonia - 5.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0
PH - 8.0
12/01/2022 (AM)
Ammonia - 2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 80.0
PH - 8.0
12/01/2022 (PM)
Ammonia - 2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 80.0
PH - 8.0
12/01/2022 (PM After 20% Water Change)
Ammonia - 1.0-2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0-80.0
PH - 8.0
13/01/2022 (AM)
Ammonia - 1.0-2.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0-80.0
PH - 8.0
13/01/2022 (PM)
Dr. Tims's added 5ml
Ammonia - 4.0-5.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 40.0-80.0
PH - 8.0
14/01/2022
Ammonia - 4.0-5.0
Nitrite - 4.0
Nitrate - 80.0
PH - 8.0

My questions are has my cycle stalled? Did I add too much ammonia? Should I do another water change to bring down the Nitrates?

I was surprised to see a nitrite and nitrate reading so early on especially as I have not added anything from my other tank. It would be nice to know if the cycle is going in the right direction.

TIA

Because you didn’t add anything from an already cycled tank, I am also skeptical about the nitrite and nitrate readings on day 2. A couple basic questions. . .

1. Are you certain the test kit and results are accurate? The kit isn’t expired and you’re following the instructions carefully? Can you confirm the test results or accuracy of the kit by using another kit, testing bottled water, whatever?
2. Besides the Dr. Tim’s, are you adding anything else to this tank?

For whatever it’s worth, I don’t think dosing ammonia to 4 ppm is necessary. . . 2 - 3 ppm would be fine.

 

I am going to test water straight from the tap later to confirm test. Nothing other than Dr Tim's going in the tank.
Another question if that's ok?

I have a smaller 60L established tank that has been running since June 2021 and I am debating whether to squeeze the filter sponge into the new tank to help the cycle. My only concern is that I lost a male Betta in December to fin rot and I'm not sure if the sponge will be infected. I do have a separate sponge filter in the 60L as well so can afford to lose the sponge.

Thanks

 

Hi, welcome.
I am wondering if you might have nitrites and nitrates in your tap water, so yes let us know after you test. What dechlorinator are you using?

So you didn't add any bacteria in a bottle to the tank? Whats in the old tank where the betta died? If empty have you been adding any ammonia to that tank to keep the cycle going?

 

Hi, welcome.
I am wondering if you might have nitrites and nitrates in your tap water, so yes let us know after you test.

I wondered the same (and it’s possible), but if you look at the nitrite and nitrate readings starting on January 10th and forward, they are kind of all over the place.

 

Hi, welcome.
I am wondering if you might have nitrites and nitrates in your tap water, so yes let us know after you test. What dechlorinator are you using?

So you didn't add any bacteria in a bottle to the tank? Whats in the old tank where the betta died? If empty have you been adding any ammonia to that tank to keep the cycle going?

I tested the tap water last night and both nitrite and nitrate are 0. I also tested the tank and got the following
Ammonia 3.0-4.0
Nitrite 4.0
Nitrate 40.0
PH 8.0

I have used Aquacare tap water conditioner from my local Maidenhead aquatics.

My betta was in a community tank so it is still a working tank. I have danios, tetra, corys in there still so cycle is fine. I’m just concerned about squeezing the sponge in case I transfer any infected water to the new tank.

 

I tested the tap water last night and both nitrite and nitrate are 0. I also tested the tank and got the following
Ammonia 3.0-4.0
Nitrite 4.0
Nitrate 40.0
PH 8.0

I have used Aquacare tap water conditioner from my local Maidenhead aquatics.

My betta was in a community tank so it is still a working tank. I have danios, tetra, corys in there still so cycle is fine. I’m just concerned about squeezing the sponge in case I transfer any infected water to the new tank.

I believe I'd just give it more time.

 

I have a smaller 60L established tank that has been running since June 2021 and I am debating whether to squeeze the filter sponge into the new tank to help the cycle. My only concern is that I lost a male Betta in December to fin rot and I'm not sure if the sponge will be infected. I do have a separate sponge filter in the 60L as well so can afford to lose the sponge.

Thanks

Don't bother. It would be better to transfer some of the established media and or hardscape, which is where the bb are.

 

My betta was in a community tank so it is still a working tank. I have danios, tetra, corys in there still so cycle is fine. I’m just concerned about squeezing the sponge in case I transfer any infected water to the new tank.

If the betta died in December and you haven’t lost any other fish, my guess is it wasn’t contagious as it would have spread through the tank by now.

Did you bring over anything from the other tank? Decorations? Substrate? Anything? There would be beneficial bacteria on those which could explain the readings.

Cycling a new tank with ammonia and without bacteria can take 4-6 weeks so no worries there. Don’t let the nitrites get over 4.0, wait to dose ammonia until they fall and I agree dosing the ammonia to 2.0 is probably enough.

Squeezing the sponge or filter in the new tank would do very little as the bacteria are for the most part on surfaces in your tank and don’t rinse off easily. You could take a small piece of filter media from your established tank and put it in the new filter though. This would really help the tank cycle faster.