As most of you know, I have been trying to get my tank to cycle. It has been 4 weeks today and I have no nitrites at all.
I always check my ammonia and nitrites level before I change the water everyday, to see how much I need to change out. When I checked it a while ago, I showed zero ammonia and zero nitrites. The zero nitrites was no a surprise for me as I have not had any yet. The zero ammonia floored me! I have not gone a day in the past three and a half weeks where I have had no ammonia at all. It is usually anywhere from .25 to 1.00ppm each day, usually about .50.
I went ahead and changed about about 35-40% of the water as my fish ate cucumber and Salad Supreme for breakfast and they made a mess on the floor of the tank, not to mention the poo that was there.
When I finished the water change, I checked all my water params again.
Ammonia=0
Nitrites=0
PH= 7.2-7.4 The usual
Nitrates= 0

Does it mean that MAYBE my nitrites are gonna kick in soon since I showed zero ammonia today? Or, could this just be a fluke? I change out my water at about the same time every day. However, this weekend, we have slept late, so yesterday, I changed out the water at around 2:00. I did it the same time today. During the week, I change it out about 11:30am. Any ideas or thoughts on this?

could mean that ur getting close, or maybe somethign is wrong with the testkit.....do u shake the reagent (spelling?) before using it?

I follow the instructions exactly as printed. The test kit has been pretty much exact, at least on the ammonia readings. It is weird...

Maybe the NitrItes will start showing up in another day or two.
By the way I love that Santa Cat!

I'm not sure, Nickie. My ammonia never went to 0 until my nitrites went down. The ammonia levels did get to where they were better, but I was fighting them both at the same time. It took my tank around 5 weeks for the cycle to settle down, and about 7 weeks before I could go to weekly 20% water changes. Although probably all tanks are different, depending on your water source, temps, fish, etc.

Sounds like you're getting close, though!

I know, it is so strange that yesterday I had .50 ammonia when I went to change the water and today there was NONE. Really freaked me out. LOL!
I have ordered some Stability and it sure be here tomorrow. I am hoping that will at least speed up the cycle. I said I wasn't going to use anything like that, but now that I am entering week 5 with NO nitrites at all, I think my BB's (if I have any at all!) need a little help. LOL!

Ammonia naturally goes down when Nitrites start showing up...but I'd get a new test kit for Nitrites just to be sure. You were going to purchase a new test kit a while ago, are you using your newest kit, or the same one since you started testing (not necessarily this tank, but your water params in general)?

The zero ammonia would not surprise me considering your daily water changes and attention to regular testing - but the zero nitrites is definately confusing.

The test kit is the one I got when I set this tank up. It is API and I got it from Bigals. Maybe I need another test kit, but I really can't afford one right now. There is no exp. date on this test kit, so I don't know how old it is, but I just bought it in Oct. I keep wondering if there is something I am not doing right as far as the cycling goes????

I know we talked about temp. for a while, and that can def. slow you down, but certainly not detain it forever. Then we talked about having enough surface area for BB's, and you said you've upped that, so.....I think you are covering all of your bases. The next few days should reveal something, since the ammonia is reacting differently now. Hopefully "Stability" will speed things up for you.

Somethin' has to start happening soon. But goes to show, those BB can be stubborn.

I was cleaning out my kitchen cabinets and I found the daily log from almost 3 years ago when I was cycling my tank and I was quite surprised at the results.

In summary:

The tank took about two and a half month to fully cycle where the ammonia and the nitrite were at 0.

The Nitrite appeared in about 4 weeks.

The Nitrate appeared a few days after the Nitrite appeared. At this point the Ammonia, Nitrite, & the Nitrate co-existed, which they did for the next month and a half.

The Ammonia peaked at about 4 weeks and started to decline.

The Nitrite peked at about 6 weeks and started to decline.

The Nitrate peaked at about 9 weeks and started to decline.

The Ammonia went to 0 at about two and a half month.

The Nitrite went to 0 a few days later. Tank cycled.

Well, I am not that far behind what your schedule was, JOH, so maybe I am doing okay. A question, though, will Stability hurt my fish in any way??? JOH, Lola?

Well, the ammonia is back today. Not sure what that was all about yesterday. I sure hope my Stability comes today!!!!

You can read up about it on the www.seachem website and see if that helps. I don't have enough experience with it. It's not supposed to is all I know.

Well, I read up on it and it says it is safe for all fish and plants. I guess I will see when it gets here.

No, it can't hurt. It's just a bacteria boost for cycling tanks. However, BioSpira would be better.

Yeah, I know, but the only way I can get BipSpira is on-line and I know it has to be kept cold and I was wondering how theywould do that and ship it to me. I have only found two places online that sell it and I have heard that you can get a bad batch, etc. However, if the Stability doesn't work, I may have to take that chance.

Two things for my two cents.... I love BioSpira. It took my tank (fishless) 9 weeks to cycle. First tank, inexperienced, added too much ammonia. But, when my ammonia wasn't doing diddley-squat and I was getting frustrated after 5 weeks or so, I added some BioSpira and within 4 days, bam! no more ammonia and there were the nitrites. Did the same thing again when the nitrites just weren't doing anything after about 8 weeks (there were nitrates too, but I didn't expect anything of them yet) and again, no more nitrites and the nitrates leveled out within a week. Great stuff! But, yeah, you do need to get it in a way that you can be assured it's fresh and refrigerated. Next, I do have one thing to share on getting a "funky" ammonia test reading. While right in the middle of cycling and I knew darn well there should be ammonia, I didn't get any reading. So, I did it again and this time, I got a reading. I racked my brain trying to figure out what happened and I think I know why. I was watching tv while doing the test and got sidetracked after adding the drops to the water and then shaking to mix, sat down to watch what was happening on the tv and I had left my finger over the top of the tube. I figured that not allowing air in, or whatever mung human skin has, affected the reading. Can you think whether you may have done anything like this? Just a thought....

I wish it were that simple, but I didn't do that. I put the ammonia drops in the test tube, put the cap on, and shook it. Let it sit for 5 mins...no ammonia. However, today the ammonia was back with a vengance! It was at 1.00ppm. I did a huge water change. I usually change out 50% every day, but today I changed out about 90%.

Are you still feeding more than once a day? I feed once a day while cycling, as experience has taught me it's easier to keep a handle on the ammonia levels. Once you're cycled, you can up your feedings again.

Yep, still feeding twice a day, just not as much as I was. I guess I will do the once a day feedings until I get this mess sorted out. LOL!

It's just a suggestion. I'm a lazy cycler, so can only do water changes once per day when I get home from work. Feeding once keeps ammonia buildup between .25 - .5 during the day, although that is just my experience, as your's may differ.

Did you add the Stability yet?

yeah, feeding a bit less might reduce waste which means less ammonia. The stability should help a bit, it did by me, hopefully urs does too!

Nickie, I experienced the same thing during cycling. No reason or rhyme to it, but the same thing.

All I can tell you is to have patience, although its difficult. This too shall pass, lol!

I added the Stability for the first time today!!!!! Fingers crossed! I have to add it for the next 7 days now.

I hope it works for u! It cycled my betta tank within 1 week, I hope u have the same success! Oh and add it directly to ur filter if u didnt know that, that way it will go directly to the bio media

I didn't know that, so I just added it to the water. The instructions did not say to add directly to the filter at first. It said you can do that once a month in an established tank. Mine is not established yet.

How's the cycle Nickie? Are you seeing any nitrites at all? Ammonia still? Hang in there, we are all hoping to hear a whoooop soon

Imo,
Today was my 6th day of using the Stability and still no nitrites!!! I am putting it directly into the filters and following the directions, but nothing is happening!!! I have been cycling my tank (or not) for 36 days now with nothing but ammonia showing up. I am getting so frustrated!!!!!

Let us know what Seachem says. I looked up a similar question from someone in your shoes on their forums, and they said the normal things: check the amount of media, feeding frequency, stuff like that.

Give it a few more days, and if still no nitrites, you might want to consider either having a bad bottle of nitrite tester, (in that case, try a new one) or trying BioSpira instead.

Unless someone else has a better suggestion. Have you raised the temp of the water? That's the only thing I can think of, since BB likes warm water.

I did e-mail Seachem and I will let you know what they say. No, I have not added a heater. I would rather do waterchanges everyday than to hurt my fish with a heater accident! LOL! The temp never falls below 73-74 degrees and usually stays at about 75. It has been pretty stable.

Seachem's reply:

Hello,
I would check the accuracy of your test kit. If you are
using ours, there is a reference included that allows you
to check the accuracy. If the test kit is working
properly, then you will need to look at what type of
biologial media you are using. If you do not have the
right kind of media for bacteria to colonize, you will
need to get this. We make a product called Matrix that
supports all of the necessary types of bacteria required
to complete the nitrogen cycle. You may want to look in to
this product. Stability is just a bacteria and no matter
how much you use or how long you use it for, it will not
be harmful to the tank. With the use of Stability along
with proper media, you should have no trouble getting the
tank cycled. Let us know if we can be of any further
assistance.
Tech Support
10201
Tech Support

yeah, same thing. I know you have enough media, and I'm assuming you're not rinsing your filters (I know you said you did at one point, but I recommended that you leave them alone until nitrites appear - so not sure you've been able to do that). If your floss gets dark brown, I'm sure you'll want to rinse some of it off. Mine don't get very dirty, even with 5 fish in the tank, but I'm not sure what kind of filtration you use. Of course Seachem will push their products, they're all in the biz to make money - don't ya love that?

How are your fish doing with the Stability in the tank? Do they seem to notice or mind it at all? I know it's supposed to be fish safe, but I'm cautious about stuff that's not supposed to hurt our fish. Even PRIME can hurt them if too much is used.

If Spooky's little 5 gallon bowl with only a sponge filter can cycle in 4 weeks, certainly yours can! Stay in touch with Seachem and keep reporting back your findings. That webpage I had sent you about BB had said that they prefer temps between 75-80ish, but I'd like to know what other fish owners have to say about thier new cycles and what temp they kept their tanks. Anytime I've cycled a new tank, my temps have been between 76-82, and nitrites came within 2 weeks. That's why I can only go from my experience, which isn't much.

Come on Nickie's nitrites! Stop hiding!!!!!

Here's another page on the nitrogen cycle (on a Cichlid website, but the info is still the same)

http://www.sydneycichlid.com/nitrogen-cycle.htm

in case you want to overload your memory chips.

LOL! Thanks! My fish don't seem to mind the Stability at all. As for my filters, I only changed the filter pads one time and have not messed with the biopads at all. I don't plan on using the Stability after Wednesday, which will be the total 8 days they recommend.

Can you point me to the brand of filter pads you use? Are you just rinsing them, or actually replacing them? And what is the difference between these and the biopads you mentioned? Did you just mean the containers that you've stored some media in?

Sorry for the 50 questions. I just want to make sure I understand. Thanks hon.

The filters I have are a Tetra Whisper and an Aqua-Tech. There are two pads in each filter. One is a white pad and the other is a black, sponge pad for the BB's to collect on. The white pad is the one that it says to change every 2-4 weeks. It says to never change the black (bio-pad), but if it gets too gunked up, to just rinse in some tank water. I have not messed with the bio-pad at all and I have only changed the white pads once since setting up the tank. I get both of these filter pads at Wally-World.

No nitrites today? I wonder if I could send you some of my mine. I have an extra hydro sponge that is saturated with BB's. I think Daryl said she's sent BB's in the mail. Can I do that????

Nope, no nitrites yet. I really don't feel like my test kit is bad, as it is testing everything else correctly. Yep, Daryl did say that she has mailed BB's before, but I don't want to put anyone out.

You know, I really think that is why my cycle is taking so long, though. I didn't have any BB's or media to kick-start it at all. My bio-pads have some BB's on them; at least, they have some jelly-looking stuff on them and I read that BB's colonize in a jelly-like substance. I guess they are just taking their time about breeding! LOL!

That's almost unbelievable. Is it possible that you are keeping the ammonia too low so the ammonia eating bacs that poop nitrites aren't blooming? I remember once the ammonia got high the nitrites appeared soon afterwards. What I thought were lethal levels of ammonia were actually harmless according to Betty(Dataguru)'s charts.

Imogen said the same thing to me, but I am so afraid that I will harm my fish if there is more than .25 ammonia in the tank! LOL! Do you remember what your ammonia levels were at that time? I know that Prime is supposed to detox levels up to .75 and I do double the dose of Prime each day when I change the water.

Hey Nic,

One more week, and if you still don't have Nitrites, I'll send you mine. No trouble at all!!!

You are a dear friend!!! I will pay the shipping if it comes to that. Thank you so much for being the generous person you are! I hope to be able to repay the favor sometime! BTW, you called me Nic! LOL! My father always calls me that, too!

Are you sitting down now? My ammonia peaked to 2.0! I thought it was a lethal dose until Betty told me that it actually wasn't for my 7pH 70 F tank.

Here is the chart.

http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/AmmoniaTox.html

Wow! That is SO neat! It is a wonder that they don't make this table known to everyone here, like have it on the water forum under the cycle picture! I need to check my PH again, but I believe it is about 7.2. According to the chart, my ammonia can go up to 2.0 and not be harmful to my fish. However, just to be on the safe side, I will not let it get up above 1.0! LOL! Thanks, JOH!!!

Well, today is my last day of using the Stability per instructions. Still no nitrites. I just checked my water and my ammonia is between .25 and .50 and I did a SMALL water change yesterday! I was sure the ammonia would be at 1.0 at least today because of the small water change I did yesterday. Do you all think I should do a water change today, or wait until tomorrow and give the bb's something to eat? Let me know!

OK my memory is failing. I am looking at my daily cycling log from three years ago. Nickie you will probably go into a caridac arrest lol, but my ammonia did not peak at 2ppm, but at 4ppm!! I now remember panicking thinking my fishes were going to die and Betty telling me that 4ppm was approaching the danger zone but was still safe as long as I kept the temp low and the pH around 7. The ammo went from 2.0 to 4.0 in one day. That was the peak and it went down afer that.

So here are the two key observations:

1. The Nitrites only appeared once the Ammo went over 1.0 to about 1.5

2. Once the Ammonia goes over 1.5, it rises quite rapidly so this is when you start monitoring the water like a hawk and do massive water changes.

So I now do believe you have been doing too much water changes, resulting in the ammonia staying too low for the Nitrite pooping bacs to bloom.

However, once you get the ammo up over 1.0 - 1.5, that is when you should go back to doing the massive water changes to keep the ammo low.

Gotcha! Okay, I will try my best not to look at their nasty tank bottom and not do a water change until tomorrow. I will let the ammo rise a bit. My temp pretty much stays at about 75 degrees, so I can't let my ammo rise as much as yours did because your temp was lower. According to that chart, it can get to about 1.5 without being dangerous, but no higher than that, I think. I will have to look again...hang on...

Okay, 2.0 for me is entering the danger zone area. So, as long as it does not go over 2.0 and I change the water at 1.5-2.0, my fish should be okay. Please tell me if this is right, JOH? My ph is between 7.3-7.4 and my temps stay at about 75 degrees.

Thank you so much for helping me with this, JOH! You and TM, both! HUGS to you!!!

Yes I think that's the plan. Refrain from doing massive water changes until the ammo goes up to 1 - 1.5. Then you can go back to doing massive water changes to keep the ammo under control. Once you hit the 1.0-1.5 level in the ammo, the bacs should start thriving and start "pooping" the nitrites.

Once the Nitrite appears, the Nitrates will appear soon afterwards. At this point, the Ammo, 'trites, & "trates will co-exist so you will need to keep a super sharp eye on all three.

Gotcha!!! Thanks so much!!!