Ugh... Reset, Restart!!

[dont155]

2.5 weeks into fishless cycle, wondering why my Ammonia levels haven't budged from the 5 ppm I started with. Also getting no Nitrite spike, not even a HINT of Nitrites... Recheck Ammonia bottle ingredients:

Water, Ammonium Hydroxide and Surfactant.

Search Internet and AA for "Surfactant". Discover its BAD for fishless cycle.

Grrrrr....

2 weeks ago I found this Ammonia "Everclear" in my local Fry's Food and Drug. Did casual "shake test" and got a few big bubbles which burst immediately. Cool, this is what I need. Wrong. Shake the cr*p out of it today and find that it foams if shaken HARD but not if shaken casually.


Guess my new Phython's gonna get a workout sooner than I expected, and I'll wait a bit longer to add some fish.


Note - NO fish were harmed by this NEWB mistake!!


Hopefully this post will spare some other Newb from the same mistake. I did a bit of research about fishless cycling before starting, but missed the part about "Surfactants" in the Ammonia cleaners.


-Don T.

[joannde]

Oh, I feel for you ! I think you might want to rinse the tank a few times when you start over (I'm glad you have a Python !!). If you don't want to deal with trying to find the right ammonia you can use the "shrimp method" - its a little ugly and a bit smelly (up close) but I did this when I got worried about the ammonia I had purchased. The shrimp method runs on its own so you don't have to worry about dosing ammonia every day.

[SCFatz]

Well...now you you know.

Note - NO fish were harmed by this NEWB mistake!!

Well done!!!

Empty it and do several rinses.Many smaller washes will have a better effect then a few large ones fwiw.

[hc8719]

a trick i used on my new 55 gal, was to transfer some water from my old tank into the new tank to promote a a faster healthy enviroment.

i know i should have waited a week or so, but the next day, i used my columbian tetras as tester fish (i dont like them as much) they are still alive, and all my other fish were added soon...

[Zagz]

Water contains very little of the beneficial bacteria. If you want to cycle a tank quicker, get some seeded media from another tank. Either some substrate or some filter media.

So sorry for your difficulties getting your fishless cycle going. Good luck with the starting over.

[dont155]

Thanks for the advice guys. I emptied the aquarium and cleaned it very well already. Used several rinses on everything in or used with the tank. (didn't use any soap, just fresh water)

Also dumped the filter media and gravel and replaced them both with new stuff. Water tests are showing good for the restart: pH 7.5, Am 0 Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 0.

I really don't want to do the "shrimp" method because the aquarium is in the recieving/dining area of the house. I.E its one of the first things the neighbors and guests will see upon entering the house. (That and my wife would KILL me... )

I just need to find the good ammonia and be more careful this time. I also need something to "seed" the bacteria again. Not easy to find here.

-Don T.

[Lonewolfblue]

Do you have a Safeway near you? Look in the cleaning section for a bottle of Pacific Brand Crystal Clear Ammonia. It is just ammonia, no detergents or scents. The bottle is 1 Gallon, and has a red and yellow label. That's where I got mine, and cycled my 55G with it, and also used it when I jump-started cycles on my other tanks, to be sure they were cycled before adding fish.

[dont155]

Yes, actually I do have a Safeway quite close to me. Matter of fact, I could walk there if I really wanted to... Thanks very much for the tip!!!


Don T.

[Lonewolfblue]

Let me know if you find it there. I was just at Safeway here and they still have it on the shelf, so they should have it there.

[Bucky Katt]

Just to warn you, I got pure ammonia and I am still having difficulties with my fishless cycle. I am at around 4ppm ammonia and Nitirites have been around .5ppm for the whole 2 weeks. Nitrates have been at a steady 5ppm. I am getting a little frustrated also.