Questioning my fishless cycle currently

[rdnelson99]

Yes. Your ammonia converting bacteria colony is super high right now and your nitrite eating bacteria hasn't caught up - only building your nitrites higher.

You could do a PWC to get it down to acceptable levels so you can read on the chart.

I wouldn't do more than dosing it to 4ppm once per day.

I agree with this completely. Well, almost. I wouldn't do any water changes. Doing water changes will remove some of the nitrite which will slow the growth of the nitrite eating colony. But, dosing more than once a day will cause the nitrites to be too high and may have a negative affect. I know you want to help it move faster but by dosing more than once a day you may be slowing things down. JMO. As has been said many many times, only bad things happen quickly. Give it the time it needs.

 

[Sniperhank]

I don't do water changes during the cycle. It is hard enough sometimes getting enough water as is. I just startd cycling my 55 and not even planning on testing until a week has passed. I give it a dose of ammonia daily.

 

[tnice17]

Ok so dose 4ppm once a day.

Nitrates are sky high too.

Thanks guys I'll keep everyone posted

 

[AquaRick]

Right. Just dose once a day for ammonia. An over-excess of ammonia can stall your cycle.

 

[tnice17]

That's prob where I'm at than :/

I'll post more results later

 

[tnice17]

Last time I added ammonia was yesterday at 11am. Up to 3-4 ppm

Does this mean my cycle is done? I still don't get why my nitrates drop

 

[rdnelson99]

Looking good. I would say yes but.....I would dose one more time today and check it again tomorrow. If you get the same results you should be good to start slowly adding livestock.

 

[tnice17]

Ok, one down side... :/

I'm going out of town again for the week :/

Dosing one more time is just a safe precaution right? So if I add live stock, it will be OK but it's a risk, correct?

 

[rdnelson99]

Just a double check. I would not recomend adding any livestock just before going out of town. I would wait until you return to do that. Dose the ammonia up to 4 ppm just before you leave and everything will be fine while you are gone. Then, when you return test one more time, do a nice big water change and you will be good to go.

 

[tnice17]

Ok sounds good. That's what I will do.

Thank you!

3-4 fish to start seems good?

 

[rdnelson99]

I wouldn't recomend that many fish to start. I would not go with more than 2. Then give it a couple weeks for the bacteria to catch up. Slow and steady. I also have a 45 and I never added more than 2 fish at a given time. I have a total of 6 fish. I will add one more but that is maxed out. The only reason I will add the last one is because my tank is now well established.

 

[tnice17]

Good point.

I'll have to come up with a long term stock list and see what fish would be best to put in first/last.

Thanks again!

 

[scottayy]

You could add your whole stocking list if you wanted - you have built a very strong biological filter. However they need to establish territory and it would be very stressful on them.

 

[tnice17]

yea i knew about the territory subject.

def want a mated pair of clowns so maybe them first

i still need to get a new pump for my skimmer and add more LR/algea to the sump, and pick up another timer


any suggestions on fish?