I started a different thread on my first fishless cycle(s) but it seems to have died. It can be found ->here<-
I am running two freshwater tanks. One tank is 29g (large) and the other is 10g (small). I started up the small tank on April 19 and the large tank on April 18. I had no seeding materials. I've been using the Ace Janitorial Strength ammonia. And I'm using an API master liquid test kit. Both tanks are running at ~83-84 degrees. I've added declorinator (Tetra AquaSafe) at every step as well.
Original, baseline readings (both tanks, before adding ammonia):
pH 8
ammonia 0.25 ppm (likely due to chloramides)
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
As far as I can tell, I have technically finished the cycle(s). Ammonia dropped (and I would dose it back up), nitrites sky-rocketed, nitrates started appearing, nitrites have now been gone for ~2 weeks, nitrates have been increasing.
Current Readings:
Large Tank:
pH 8 (maybe a little less)
ammonia 0.5-1
nitrites 0
nitrates 80+
Small Tank:
pH 7.8
ammonia 0.5-1
nitrites 0
nitrates 80+
Questions:
My problem is, ammonia seems to drop only about 1ppm per day. It has not seemed to speed up in the last couple weeks (that nitrites were 0).
Seeing as my tanks can fully convert some levels of ammonia I would like to know if I can go ahead and partially stock my tanks? (I realize I need to get my nitrates down before this can happen.)
What would you all suggest I do to get my tanks to be able to handle larger doses of ammonia?
If I can partially stock my tanks, how many fish can I go ahead and get?
I just really need some advice I where I can go from here. Help!
I am running two freshwater tanks. One tank is 29g (large) and the other is 10g (small). I started up the small tank on April 19 and the large tank on April 18. I had no seeding materials. I've been using the Ace Janitorial Strength ammonia. And I'm using an API master liquid test kit. Both tanks are running at ~83-84 degrees. I've added declorinator (Tetra AquaSafe) at every step as well.
Original, baseline readings (both tanks, before adding ammonia):
pH 8
ammonia 0.25 ppm (likely due to chloramides)
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
As far as I can tell, I have technically finished the cycle(s). Ammonia dropped (and I would dose it back up), nitrites sky-rocketed, nitrates started appearing, nitrites have now been gone for ~2 weeks, nitrates have been increasing.
Current Readings:
Large Tank:
pH 8 (maybe a little less)
ammonia 0.5-1
nitrites 0
nitrates 80+
Small Tank:
pH 7.8
ammonia 0.5-1
nitrites 0
nitrates 80+
Questions:
My problem is, ammonia seems to drop only about 1ppm per day. It has not seemed to speed up in the last couple weeks (that nitrites were 0).
Seeing as my tanks can fully convert some levels of ammonia I would like to know if I can go ahead and partially stock my tanks? (I realize I need to get my nitrates down before this can happen.)
What would you all suggest I do to get my tanks to be able to handle larger doses of ammonia?
If I can partially stock my tanks, how many fish can I go ahead and get?
I just really need some advice I where I can go from here. Help!