First few days in cycle, did I mess up?

[drewez44]

Started fishless cycle Wed. but I put in stress coat and bacteria builder before I read not to put in bacteria builder. I have been adding ammonia as recomended but my nitrite level is at zero and nitrates are barely registering.

Should I start over? Or will this correct itself when I keep adding the ammonia?

[drewez44]

No one want to tackle this one? Should I wait for the ammonia to go to zero then and cycle with fish?

[ko4000]

I would just cycle through it. You wont see NitrItes in your first couple days of a cycle. The fact the you have a NitrAte reading is a little weird. Have you tested you tap water? Does it contain trates?
Hopefully the fishless pros will be around shortly to help you out.

Ive never done a fishless cycle b/c I hate the wait, I normally use media from my existing tanks to seed the new tank. Can you get access to cycled media, either from a friend or a friendly LFS?

[ko4000]

What your param's right now?

[drewez44]

Just tested, 2 ammonia, 0 nitrates, and 5 nitrites.

[drewez44]

Sorry I mixed up trates and trites in first post.(blush)

[Wiggs]

So you have slight ammonia from what you added and are starting to see nitrites...


Right on track :)

[drewez44]

Right on track. Oh thank you, Great to hear Thanks for replying.

[drewez44]

My ammonia level has been staying the same (hasnt gone down since last time I posted on the tenth). Is this ok? I havent added any ammonia since then. Also, I think I might have ich? Little white things floating around in the water almost looks like air bubbles? Anyone have any advice?

[jackson17]

I have the same thing(little white bubbles) I always thought it was air from my filter since its only on that side, now im curious. Anyone want to shed some light on this?

[mommy1]

its your tank trying to cycle

[Fraoch]

I believe the little white bubbles (on mine it looked like some sort of whitish oil slick) are free-floating bacteria on the surface.

This is a good thing, it means water conditions are such that bacteria are growing. The ones on the surface probably aren't doing very much but they are getting established en masse in your filter and that's what you want.

You may also see the tank get cloudy. Also a good thing, it's a bacteria bloom with the bacteria suspended in the water. It means that the bacteria is growing everywhere it can.

Oh and it can't be ich - you have no fish so there's nothing available for ich to sustain itself.

[drewez44]

That is good to know Thank You! :19:

[fins_n_fur]

You should be aiming to keep the ammonia levels up to 4-5 ppm until you see nitrites. Also what will help is a higher temperature and proper oxygen exchange. What is your temp set to? Please read the sticky on fishless cycling in this part of the forum to ensure you're doing all that you can to get the tank cycled.