I have been under fishless cycle since 6 Jan
I have been maintaining 4 ppm of ammonia (ace hardware 10%). However the NH3 has never dropped from for except on 10 Jan when it read 2 (could have been from adding water every now and then for evaporation). I dosed back to 4 at this time and it has not dropped since. I have tested for nitrites a few times and nothing.
I don't have seeding bacteria and I don't want to use bottled bacteria from the lfs.
Am I doing something wrong or do I need to be more patient.? Can you cycle w/o seeding or bottle bacteria? Everything I have read says 4-7 days to see significant NH3 drops and nitrite starting to appear.
I have been maintaining 4 ppm of ammonia (ace hardware 10%). However the NH3 has never dropped from for except on 10 Jan when it read 2 (could have been from adding water every now and then for evaporation). I dosed back to 4 at this time and it has not dropped since. I have tested for nitrites a few times and nothing.
I don't have seeding bacteria and I don't want to use bottled bacteria from the lfs.
Am I doing something wrong or do I need to be more patient.? Can you cycle w/o seeding or bottle bacteria? Everything I have read says 4-7 days to see significant NH3 drops and nitrite starting to appear.