Stalled Cycle - fishless

So I have a 5 gallon planted freshwater tank and have been trying to cycle it for three weeks now but am concerned it stalled. Below are my parameters. Basically the first two weeks I used food to generate ammonia and was getting nitrite readings within 24 hours ammonia was below 1ppm during those two weeks.

Since then I got Dr Tim’s Ammonia and habe dosed to 2-4ppm. Now I have a reading of 0 ppm and it doesn’t appear to budge. I had some nitrates previously but don’t seem to be getting more now. I tried a 100% water change and the attached pictures are my levels at 24 hours from ammonia dose.

I am using Seachem stability/pristine/prime.

Temp - 80 F
GH - 7
pH - 7.5
CO2 - yes
Filter - Oase Filtosmart 60
Media - Seachem Matrix

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions let me know.

 

mattgirl

 

Since this is a fishless cycle I would only add prime when doing a water change. Just add enough to treat the water you are replacing. I would stop adding it the pristine too. The fewer things you add during the cycling process the better it is.
If your nitrites spiked and are now at zero that is what you want to happen. Once they spike and go back to zero you shouldn't see them again. Are you seeing nitrates yet?

 

For any water addition/change I was adding only enough Prime for the water being replaced as you suggested. Last week it was at 5-10ppm but I needed to physically relocate the tank so I did a water change removing down to the gravel and replacing. Since then I have not gotten any nitrate levels and nitrite will not budge past 0ppm.

I though the purpose of Seachem Stability was to accelerate the cycle by introducing the proper bacteria to the tank to colonize. I will stop adding pristine but am unsure why that would hurt the cycle. Since I have plants I leave my light on 75% intensity so they get the proper amount of light ( LED light ) - but trying to minimize algae growth.

Since adding concentrated ammonia I have not seen any nitrite spike - I suppose I just need to watch the nitrates.

Appreciate the help, my betta is patiently waiting!

 

Stability doesn't contain true nitrifying bacteria.

Only Fritz, TSS, ATM Colony, and Bio Spira do.

 

Noted will look at those.

 

Adding the Stability is alright since it is bottled bacteria. It might help but at least it shouldn't hurt. The Pristine probably isn't a problem but I think the less unnecessary things we add the better it is 'specially while cycling a tank.

Since you have had a nitrite spike and it went back down to zero you probably won't see them spike again so not seeing them isn't a concern. What you want to see is your ammonia going down and your nitrates rising

Since then I got Dr Tim’s Ammonia and habe dosed to 2-4ppm. Now I have a reading of 0 ppm and it doesn’t appear to budge.

I don't understand the above quote. It is telling me you are seeing 0 ammonia but the test tube is showing ammonia.

 

Sorry I have 0 nitrates would have helped if I put the word my brain was thinking of in there.

So i have 2-4ppm Ammonia / 0ppm Nitrite / 0ppm Nitrate at 1 week. Previously had 5-10ppm before I did a water change and moved the tank to another location. Sounds like I just need to continue to be patient and watch the ammonia/nitrate levels every few days and not add anymore ammonia unless it drops down to see if the ammonia will go to 0ppm after a 24 hr period yes?

 

Sorry I have 0 nitrates would have helped if I put the word my brain was thinking of in there.

So i have 2-4ppm Ammonia / 0ppm Nitrite / 0ppm Nitrate at 1 week. Previously had 5-10ppm before I did a water change and moved the tank to another location. Sounds like I just need to continue to be patient and watch the ammonia/nitrate levels every few days and not add anymore ammonia unless it drops down to see if the ammonia will go to 0ppm after a 24 hr period yes?

Not a problem. Just one letter difference can be confusing I agree, at this time it is just a matter of waiting and watching. It takes a boatload of patience to cycle a tank. It doesn't help when these companies claim their products will cycle a tank quickly. So many of them don't work anything like their claims.

If you had 5-10ppm nitrates before the water change I have to think your cycle is heading in the right direction.