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Ok, question... I had posted awhile back about re-doing my 10g because of all the snails. I cleaned it out, refilled it, took the bag bio media from my established 55g and dropped it in there, along with rocks and gravel, etc. I began adding pure ammonia, to cycle fishlessly. I tested every 2-3 days over the past two weeks. In thinking that my cycle was never going past the ammonia stage, I added rocks and driftwood from my established tanks to help "seed" the bacteria and jump start the tank.

For over a week I had ammonia, but no nitrites. But, I wasn't testing everyday. The tank has been up almost two weeks now, I've never seen nitrites, but my ammonia has tested at 0 ppm the last three days, even after adding a bit more pure ammonia.

Is it possible that I missed the nitrite spike by not testing every day and the tank is cycled? By adding pure ammonia to a 10g, surely there would be a 1-2 ppm spike. I am getting nothing, which tells me the bacteria are there, doing their job.

Nitrates have been 20 ppm consistently, pH of 8.2 consistently. When I cycled the tanks last time (10g and 55g) I went with pure ammonia, rather than cycling with fish and they both cycled within a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the feedback!

Hi,
When doing a fishless cycle and you add ammonia. When you
can add ammonia, and not be able to get an ammonia reading
that means that the bacteria is near instantly converting
it through nitrite to nitrate and the tank is fully cycled.

While cycling a new tank can normally take from 4-6 weeks,
when you brought over the bag of mulm and driftwood, etc.,
you also brought over colonies of the bacteria that support
the Nitrogen Cycle, and "jump started" the whole thing.

Just to be sure, try testing a glass of tap water for
nitrate and see if you still have a reading of 20.

My guess is that the tank is cycled, and it's time for
the "critters."

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well Frank, that's exactly why I added the bag from the other tank, the rocks and driftwood. Looks like it worked!

My son is all excited since the 10g is now his. He is getting glo-fish... Those wouldn't be my first choice, but this isn't my tank, lol!

As for the nitrates, tap water has 5.0 ppm while the tank water has 10-20 ppm.

Anyhow, thanks for confirming my suspicions Frank!

Later this afternoon, it's off to the LFS for some glo-fish and plants for his tank, and some supplies, plants and panda corys for my 55g. If I see a piece of driftwood I fancy, I may pick that up as well. (I have a pile of birthday money burning a hole in my wallet...)

Hi Scott,
That was the reason why I asked what the Nitrate reading
was on the tap water. The zero ammonia and the 20 nitrate
reading does indicate that the ammonia is being processed
straight through to Nitrate. It's cycled.

Now, remember that the tank is cycled for the amount of
ammonia that you were dosing the tank with. If you add more
fish (ammonia) than you were dosing with, then there will
be a mini-cycle as the bacterial colonies expand to process
the increased amount of ammonia. If you are adding less
"fishy ammonia" than you cycled the tank with then the
bacterial colonies will receed to match the new input.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I was adding a partial capful of pure ammonia every couple of days. The 5 glo-danios we just put in there tonite would probably be hard pressed to generate that much ammonia in as much time. So, the bacteria colony will no doubt dwindle some. We'll add a few more glo danios this week for a nice shoal. My little boy is really loving his new fish!