Fishless cycling question?

[Leggmantn2015]

Do you need to keep feeding the tank an ammonia source even after ammonia has spiked high but now has dropped to zero?
I test ammonia 0 and nitrites 3-4 ppm nitrates like 10-15 ppm.

 

[cee]

I'd say yes until the nitrites are also zero.

 

[Leggmantn2015]

I'm just reading conflicting information on the internet and wondered if an experienced reefer had advice.

 

[Rob.D]

I've always cycled by "ghost feeding" basically feeding the tank a small amount of food ever few days.

 

[Leggmantn2015]

Thanks for the info any and all posts from senior reefers is much appreciated. This is my first saltwater tank and I have alot too learn.

 

[Steve Dillon]

I use an ammonia powder. Its an instant ammonia spike and then wait for everything to go to 0 then add fish slowly.

 

[Steve Dillon]

And as I have learned the hard way quarantine all fish regardless.

 

[tjgr34]

I would keep feeding. My reasoning is that you want to keep your bacterial community growing, so you need to keep feeding it. Worst case scenario- you have to do a couple of water changes to get your nitrates down at the end of the cycle.

 

[Jlobes]

what are you using to fishless cycle? did you add DrTims? are you using ammonia chloride liquid?

you want to add more ammonia when BOTH the ammonia and nitrites are below 0.5, after the addition you can test a couple(2-3) days later. If upon testing, both ammonia and nitrites are below 0.5 add ammonia to 2ppm again. test 24 hours later. keep doing this cycle of adding ammonia and testing, until the tank can process the ammonia AND nitrites to ZERO in a 24 hour period. when your tank can process 2ppm ammonia to zero on both tests, then your tank is cycled. Youre ready to add your first inhabitant. If you dont have a first inhabitant ready, continue to add ammonia or ghost feed until you do. \

My tank has been cycled since the end of Nov. I have been adding ammonia every few days or throwing a cube of mysis in there, to keep the bacteria fed and growing. I recently added CUC and first fish will be going in, in a few days/week.

 

[CastAway]

Just something that stuck with me, that it's a cycle, as in its endless, it just keeps going. If you remove, stop or kill a component of the cycle, it stops (or changes really). Food & poop lead to ammonia. Ammonia leads to nitrosomonas bacteria and nitrite; nitrite leads to nitrobacter bacteria and nitrate. Ideally, there's always an equilibrium. Ammonia is always there, even if you can't measure it. Nitrite is always there, even when you can't measure it, and Nitrate is what accumulates and must be removed.

 

[Leggmantn2015]

I added liquid ammonia day 1. I know its frowned upon but I added biospira day two "I figured it can't hurt" end if day two ammonia was undetectable now I have high nitrites. Ever since I have been continually feeding ammonia to keep it off zero. Its been 6 days nitrites are still high but tank still processes ammonia like a champ. Nitrites seem like they are just staying high and not doing anything.

 

[fragit]

I'm old school and haven't had a tank for a few years, some of the stuff I've been reading about "cycles" I have found to be counter intuitive. If your looking for stability in your tank, which is what will make your tank thrive you need to give it time. I don't understand all this adding stuff (chemicals) to make a tank cycle faster. I can see and will do with my current set up adding bacteria as I'm starting with dead rock. But all the other stuff just makes me think that people will be chasing the dragon, and having so many variables to keep track of, that they are making an already complicated hobby more so. M2C

 

[Mark75]

I test ammonia 0 and nitrites 3-4 ppm nitrates like 10-15 ppm.

Your nitrates seem high at this point of the cycle,...testing error?

 

[Jlobes]

this is normal, your nitrites might linger high for a few days. if they are NOT below 0.5 do not add ammonia. soo enough you will see the nitrites drop, almost over night. when they do drop, add more ammonia and wait.