Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: thebbqguy on April 10, 2015, 06:49:51 PM

Title: Cycling New Tank
Post by: thebbqguy on April 10, 2015, 06:49:51 PM

I have been reading about cycling and trying to do it without fish.

My nitrite is at .25 and ammonia is at .25 tonight. Should I do a water change now or wait for ammonia to spike some more?

I used one of those quick start cycling additives, so I am not real sure about what I should do next.

Title: Re: Cycling New Tank
Post by: Regalblue on April 11, 2015, 01:34:00 AM

I'd let it sit another day & retest.   

If you're gonna be in the Westland area, LMK & I'll give you some substrate to jump start your cycle. 

Title: Re: Cycling New Tank
Post by: Ron on April 11, 2015, 10:00:59 AM

With no fish in the tank, I wouldn't worry about water changes. You are basically waiting for bacteria that feed on ammonia and nitrite to build up. The more ammonia and nitrite, the more food that is available for the growing bacteria population.

Title: Re: Cycling New Tank
Post by: Steve on April 11, 2015, 11:01:20 AM

What are you using for the ammonia source? I did the fishless cylce in my first 55g back a few years ago and had good results, took about 28 days and had to use the proper ammonia source (Ace brand janitorial ammonia) because other ammonias have sulfates which are not too to use.

Basically no water changes till after the nitrite spike happens. Once that shoots up to 4-5ppm then you can bring it down with some 35% wc's and you will start seeing Nitrate after that. Took mine about 20 days till the nitrite spike happened and I started some small wc's after that.