Cycling Q's. Going Fishless.

[supradupafast]

Alright, I have made a mistake by taking "Big Al's" advice on cycling my 60Gal with 6 Danios in. After trying for 4 weeks, I am starting to think that these Danios will never make enough of a Bio-Load on the size of Tank, and I have decided to switch to a Fishless after reading so many posts on them. I have taken my 6 Danios and transfered them to my established 10 Gal. I am keeping an eye on the levels, and doing daily 40% pwc (on my 10gal) so I do get a spike in Ammonia/Nitrites. So, having said that the Danios are safe.

Now, on with my 60 Gal.
Prior to adding Ammonia, my levels when I took out the fish were:
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrites: 0.25
Nitrates: 5
PH: 7.2 (Stable)

I have purchased some Goldex Ammonia (I have read multiple ppl from other forums recommending this brand). From reading posts on here, I should be bringing my Ammonia levels to +- 2.5 ? How much Ammonia should I be putting in?
I started putting in Ammonia 48 Hrs ago. Started with 2 Cap full (small caps about 3ml ea), and my Ammonia only went to 1.
I have since added 2 more cap fulls, and my Ammonia still won't go over 1.
I am running a Eheim Canister 80Gal filter. Any input or help would be appreciated.

 

[supradupafast]

UPDATE:

After a couple of days, I am getting a NitrIte Spike.
Nitrites are now at 5PPM, Ammonia still sitting at 1PPM.

 

[Aquarium1]

Sounds like your on ur way

 

[supradupafast]

So I let the Nitrite Spike off the Chart and keep adding Ammonia to get a reading?

 

[dkpate]

I think the point is at the end of the cycle, you should be able to put in ammonia and then check it later and it should read 0.

 

[supradupafast]

I figured that too.. This morning, I tested the Tank... I have no clue what's happening. By now, I figured the Ammonia should read 0, but these are my readings:

Ammonia : 1
Nitrites: 5
NitrAtes: 40-80 (hard to tell)

Anyways, I will just let it sit, and test again tomorrow. Should I be feeding it a lil' ammonia daily still? that's my question I guess...?

 

[dkpate]

Are you doing pwc's too? You need to do that while you are cycling the tank.

 

[supradupafast]

lol....
Maybe that would explain...
Will do one right now .. Thanks

 

[dkpate]

I am going to send you a pm real quick.

 

[Aquarium1]

during a fishless cycle you don't need to do pwcs as long as ammonia is less than 8. Also Once nitrites and ammonias are 0 you are done.

 

[supradupafast]

But is it normal to be seeing Ammonia levels while the Nitrites & Nitrates are rising? I thought the Ammonia should have been at 0 by now??

 

[Aquarium1]

yeah, but eventually it will go down.

 

[Aquarium1]

I had ammonia while having nitrites when I cycled.

 

[supradupafast]

Ah.. Ok.. Nice.. I am only in my 4 day of Fishless
Had the Bacteria Kickstart of having tried the Cycling with fish for few weeks before doing this Fishless ...
So, from reading, I should be dropping some Ammonia daily just enough to keep feeding the bacterias, but not enough to get a reading?
Is that right?

 

[supradupafast]

I had ammonia while having nitrites when I cycled.

The thing is, I am having Ammonia while having nitrates Spike?

 

[Aquarium1]

nitrates don't really spike, they just keep rising.

 

[supradupafast]

nitrates don't really spike, they just keep rising.

I am saying "Spike" because I went from 5PPM to 40PPM in 48 hrs.

 

[Aquarium1]

wow, I'd say you could do a pwc if you can.

 

[mfdrookie516]

Ok, dont do a pwc unless your ammonia gets super high, like 8... Otherwise you are defeating the purpose... How much ammonia are you adding daily? you need to get up closer to 3.5-4... the more ammonia you add (dont get over 4ppm), the bigger the bacteria colony youre going to have therefore having less of a chance of having a mini cycle or ammonia spike when adding fish...

 

[Aquarium1]

But eventually, couldn't nitrate kill the bacteria if it was high enough?