HELP!!!

[Platiesareawesome]

Okay, so I just started my fishless cycle about an hour ago. I added my ammonia, (2 mL) waited 20 minutes for it to "mix in" with my tank water, and I tested the water. The water seemed to have no ammonia in it (I used the API master test kit). Long story short, I screwed up. Turns out I tested the water wrong, so I added more ammonia. I finally figured out what I did wrong, tested the water again, and I had 8ppm! Is this okay? What should I do!?!?!?!

 

[Platiesareawesome]

Can I add some seachem prime?

 

[jlk]

Do a big water change to drop your ammonia. Depending on the size tank, it needs to @4ppm or much less if it's a small tank. You should be properly conditioning any/all water you are using in your tank.

 

[Coyne]

If you havent already figured this out then you need to do a 50% PWC to reduce 8ppm to 4ppm.
Good luck... I just started my first Fish-less cycle last week, so Im anxious to see how it goes.

 

[Coyne]

Also, since you dont have any fish in the tank, then I would only add Prime or any conditioner to remove chlorine and such when you add new water during a PWC.
In theory though, you shouldnt have to do any PWCs (unless you overdose the ammonia ) until your tank is fully cycled and youre ready to add fish.

 

[Platiesareawesome]

Also, since you dont have any fish in the tank, then I would only add Prime or any conditioner to remove chlorine and such when you add new water during a PWC.
In theory though, you shouldnt have to do any PWCs (unless you overdose the ammonia ) until your tank is fully cycled and youre ready to add fish.

I ended up doing a 30% pwc and it reduced it to 1 ppm...I have a 10 gallon tank so about how many mL to bring it up to 4 ppm?

 

[Coyne]

I'm also cycling a 10 gallon tank. I use 1.5ml of 10% ammonia solution to get 4ppm. So assuming you're using the same ammonia... Maybe around .80 ml . That was some pretty sketchy math on my part, so no promises.

 

[Platiesareawesome]

I'm also cycling a 10 gallon tank. I use 1.5ml of 10% ammonia solution to get 4ppm. So assuming you're using the same ammonia... Maybe around .80 ml . That was some pretty sketchy math on my part, so no promises.

Thank you! I ended up adding 1 mL more, and that brought it back up to 8 ppm...uhhhhhhgggg! Is this okay? (I have school tomorrow so I can't change the water again...Is this okay?

 

[Platiesareawesome]

^^ Oops! I said the same thing twice! ^^

 

[Coyne]

I dunno... this is my first fish-less cycle as well. Its my understanding that if the ammonia is too high it can stall the cycle. I dont know what qualifies as "too high" though.
But you can just do a PWC tomorrow. It doesnt have to be right away since there are no fish in there.

 

[Coyne]

also, here's the website I was given to figure out how much ammonia to use.

Calculator

 

[Platiesareawesome]

I dunno... this is my first fish-less cycle as well. Its my understanding that if the ammonia is too high it can stall the cycle. I dont know what qualifies as "too high" though.
But you can just do a PWC tomorrow. It doesnt have to be right away since there are no fish in there.

Okay thanks!

 

[Platiesareawesome]

I'm also cycling a 10 gallon tank. I use 1.5ml of 10% ammonia solution to get 4ppm. So assuming you're using the same ammonia... Maybe around .80 ml . That was some pretty sketchy math on my part, so no promises.

By the way, do you use Ace janitorial strength ammonia?

 

[Coyne]

Yea... That's what I'm using.