akrilliks
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hello there! Akrilliks here. There is a typhoon on the way and I have a physical chemistry exam tomorrow but wanted to take a break from all of that to say hello!
I actually joined because I've been reading threads about fishless cycling here and couldn't find a solution to the problem I have been having, but I'll get into that in just a moment!
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fall. I am the proud owner of a 10 gallon planted freshwater tank. I believe most of this is in my details on my profile but I will also put it here!
The tank has two anubias plants, and 3 marimo moss balls. Sand as substrate, and a 40g sponge filter. My goal is to make this a home for an axolotl! I already have a chiller to keep the tank at 16 C when it is done cycling!
The base parameters are
pH of 7.4-7.8 (I keep a handful of crushed coral in a aquarium safe mesh bag to help with this, as my tap is 6.8, it also helps with water hardness)
0 Ammonia
0 NitrItes and 0 NitrAtes
On to where I am stuck...
I have been trying to fishless cycle the tank with household ammonia, specifically austin's clear ammonia which I have made sure is safe for use. It takes about 56 drops to get to 3 ppm, which is the amount I have been dosing!
Now I have been trying to get this tank cycled for almost two months now and I am stuck...
As of today (after dosing 3 ppm ammonia last night)
pH = 7.4-7.8
0 Ammonia
Off the chart NitrItes
Off the chart NitrAtes
I've read off the chart trItes/trAtes cause a cycle to stall...so I have been doing regular water changes to try and keep it down. My problem is, one dose of ammonia causes both to go off the chart the next day! And I haven't seen any changes from that for about 2 weeks now, and can't seem to find the answer. So help there would be appreciated!
Aside from that, thanks for having me and hearing me out. I hope to gain more knowledge as I go and one day be a helpful member of the hobby/community here.
I actually joined because I've been reading threads about fishless cycling here and couldn't find a solution to the problem I have been having, but I'll get into that in just a moment!
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fall. I am the proud owner of a 10 gallon planted freshwater tank. I believe most of this is in my details on my profile but I will also put it here!
The tank has two anubias plants, and 3 marimo moss balls. Sand as substrate, and a 40g sponge filter. My goal is to make this a home for an axolotl! I already have a chiller to keep the tank at 16 C when it is done cycling!
The base parameters are
pH of 7.4-7.8 (I keep a handful of crushed coral in a aquarium safe mesh bag to help with this, as my tap is 6.8, it also helps with water hardness)
0 Ammonia
0 NitrItes and 0 NitrAtes
On to where I am stuck...
I have been trying to fishless cycle the tank with household ammonia, specifically austin's clear ammonia which I have made sure is safe for use. It takes about 56 drops to get to 3 ppm, which is the amount I have been dosing!
Now I have been trying to get this tank cycled for almost two months now and I am stuck...
As of today (after dosing 3 ppm ammonia last night)
pH = 7.4-7.8
0 Ammonia
Off the chart NitrItes
Off the chart NitrAtes
I've read off the chart trItes/trAtes cause a cycle to stall...so I have been doing regular water changes to try and keep it down. My problem is, one dose of ammonia causes both to go off the chart the next day! And I haven't seen any changes from that for about 2 weeks now, and can't seem to find the answer. So help there would be appreciated!
Aside from that, thanks for having me and hearing me out. I hope to gain more knowledge as I go and one day be a helpful member of the hobby/community here.
