29 Gallon Tank Question: Can someone simplify this for me?

I have started a fishless cycle using Fritz Aquatics Fishless Fuel Ammonia Solution. The tank started up on 08/11/2022. I added ammonia, prime, and stability. Nothing else. I added a bubbler last night. Every since I started my ammonia is kinda stuck a 4.0. I read this "Continue measuring ammonia and nitrite every 2 or 3 days until you start to see some nitrite." This is confusing to me. Can someone please explain this a little better? Does this mean I need to measure both? I've only been measuring ammonia and its stuck at 4.0. TIA!
My test results from tonight.

 

Yes you need to measure both,

 

Looks normal. I started my cycle a day later on the 12th.

This was my results 8hrs ago:




I’d say I’ve got around 1ppm Ammonia and you’ve got closer to 4 ppm Ammonia,

I’ve just increased the amount of fish food I’m adding to try to raise my ammonia closer to your level. At least until I see the first signs of conversion to Nitrite.

We are both still at the very beginning of the cycle. Hopefully we will see a Nitrite spike over the coming days (which is why it’s best to measure for both Ammonia and Nitrite).

 

You have been cycling for 8 days. It will be week 3 or so when you will see nitrites. Just be patient. Just test ammonia every few days or so. Maybe nitrite once a week. Save your liquid.... it will be a bit.

 

Yes you need to measure both,

Thank you!!

Looks normal. I started my cycle a day later on the 12th.

This was my results 8hrs ago:

View attachment 857228

I’d say I’ve got around 1ppm Ammonia and you’ve got closer to 4 ppm Ammonia,

I’ve just increased the amount of fish food I’m adding to try to raise my ammonia closer to your level. At least until I see the first signs of conversion to Nitrite.

We are both still at the very beginning of the cycle. Hopefully we will see a Nitrite spike over the coming days (which is why it’s best to measure for both Ammonia and Nitrite).

That's amazing! Glad I'm not alone lol. Yours is doing good tho! I'm using pure ammonia so I can control how much is used. I was scared to use anything else.

You have been cycling for 8 days. It will be week 3 or so when you will see nitrites. Just be patient. Just test ammonia every few days or so. Maybe nitrite once a week. Save your liquid.... it will be a bit.

Awesome thank you! I thought so but wanted to be sure lol.

 

I am having the opposite issues. On 9/14/2022, I used Fritz Fishless Fuel, Prime and Fritz 7 live nitrifying bacterial. I added prime then the fuel. I immediately tested until I reached 4ppm, which was 40 drops for 5 gallon tank. Then I added 1/4 cup of Fritz 7. On 9/15, Ammonia 4ppm, nitrites 2ppm. On 9/16, Ammonia dropped to .25, nitrites 2ppm, On 9/16 (today), ammonia still at .25 and nitrites are zero. The live bacteria is suppose to neutralize the ammonia and nitrites. My ammonia should have went to zero before my nitrites based on my research. So, I email Fritz with this issue and awaiting a response. I haven't tested for Nitrates yet but I'm going to tomorrow as I'm curious what it will read. I will share when Fritz responds.

 

The live bacteria is suppose to neutralize the ammonia and nitrites. My ammonia should have went to zero before my nitrites based on my research. So, I email Fritz with this issue and awaiting a response. I haven't tested for Nitrates yet but I'm going to tomorrow as I'm curious what it will read. I will share when Fritz responds.

Hi evonner. The bacteria will consume the ammonia and nitrite and not just neutralize it. When the ammonia is consumed it produces nitrite. When that is consumed it produces nitrate.

You are correct that USUALLY you will see the ammonia drop to zero before the nitrites do, but not always. Some time the population of bacteria that consume nitrite get ahead of the ammonia consumers. What you are seeing is not uncommon and nothing appears wrong. Every tank is different to some degree. Are you using the API liquid test kit?

Sometimes a tank cycles and there are never any nitrites seen on the tests. They are being processed too efficiently to leave any.

Let us know what the nitrate test says. You definately should have nitrates. Each 1ppm of ammonia will result in 3.64 ppm of nitrate. If you only added ammonia once at 4ppm then you should have about 15ppm nitrate (4ppm x 3.64 = 14.56ppm). Test kits don't measure nitrate very accurately, so if you are using the API liquid test it would give a result of 10-20ppm.

 

Hi evonner. The bacteria will consume the ammonia and nitrite and not just neutralize it. When the ammonia is consumed it produces nitrite. When that is consumed it produces nitrate.

You are correct that USUALLY you will see the ammonia drop to zero before the nitrites do, but not always. Some time the population of bacteria that consume nitrite get ahead of the ammonia consumers. What you are seeing is not uncommon and nothing appears wrong. Every tank is different to some degree. Are you using the API liquid test kit?

Sometimes a tank cycles and there are never any nitrites seen on the tests. They are being processed too efficiently to leave any.

Let us know what the nitrate test says. You definately should have nitrates. Each 1ppm of ammonia will result in 3.64 ppm of nitrate. If you only added ammonia once at 4ppm then you should have about 15ppm nitrate (4ppm x 3.64 = 14.56ppm). Test kits don't measure nitrate very accurately, so if you are using the API liquid test it would give a result of 10-20ppm.

Yes, I am using API liquid test. So, I just tested. My ammonia I say is a trace because it's almost yellow. Nitrite 0, Nitrates is either 40 or 80, the color chart of each is so closely matched, my pH is 8.2 which is what my 10 gallon cycled tank runs. So today is day 5 since starting fishless fuel and FZ7.

This 5 gallon tank has gravel for the substrate, a sponge filter and an HOB with mechanical bulk media sponge and bio max rings. I started cycling this tank on 8/4/22 with fish food but could not get my ammonia over .25. During the process my nitrites spiked and nitrates and ammonia was zero but I knew I wasn't cycled. On 8/29, I had no ammonia, no nitrate and my nitrate was 20. Then on 9/4, my ammonia was .25, nitrate 0 and nitrate was 80, so I did a water change, vacuumed gravel and rinsed media then started the fishless fuel process.

I think.... I just might be cycled and it happened faster because of what I was doing prior. I think I need to do a water change to lower my nitrates and hopefully see full yellow on ammonia. What are your thoughts?

I can fishin cycle, I just prefer not to because it requires a lot of water changes to keep the water parameters in safe levels.

 

I have started a fishless cycle using Fritz Aquatics Fishless Fuel Ammonia Solution. The tank started up on 08/11/2022. I added ammonia, prime, and stability. Nothing else. I added a bubbler last night. Every since I started my ammonia is kinda stuck a 4.0. I read this "Continue measuring ammonia and nitrite every 2 or 3 days until you start to see some nitrite." This is confusing to me. Can someone please explain this a little better? Does this mean I need to measure both? I've only been measuring ammonia and its stuck at 4.0. TIA!
My test results from tonight.

I am just curious on how your cycling turned out? You can PM me if you would like.

Looks normal. I started my cycle a day later on the 12th.

This was my results 8hrs ago:

View attachment 857228

I’d say I’ve got around 1ppm Ammonia and you’ve got closer to 4 ppm Ammonia,

I’ve just increased the amount of fish food I’m adding to try to raise my ammonia closer to your level. At least until I see the first signs of conversion to Nitrite.

We are both still at the very beginning of the cycle. Hopefully we will see a Nitrite spike over the coming days (which is why it’s best to measure for both Ammonia and Nitrite).

Hi Nick, I was also wondering how your cycling turned out. You can PM me if you would like.