new question

[aricall]

ok so its been like 5 days or so since i started my ammonia cycle.
i havent added any more ammonia since the first time i added some.
it appears to be about a 5 on the graph.
is it normal to take this long for the ammonia level to start dropping?

thanks

[underoath8711]

yes, it can take 1-2 weeks sometimes for the ammonia spike, and then the nitrite spike, and then the nitrates to get down to zero. The whole process can take 3 weeks, or so, for a brand new tank.

All that beneficial bacteria needs to build up.

If you have some old filter media from an established tank, add it to your new filter. Also gravel, ornaments, stuff you can take from an established tank will help. I believe adding plants after the nitrite spike will help finish it off, I could be wrong though, just a theory in my head.

[LethalResistanz]

Yes sadly it takes a very long time to cycle starting from scratch. I have heard many people here say that their LFS give away or sell used filter media. The will greatly speed up your cycle if you can find some.

Other then that just wait it out.

[aricall]

ok thanks everyone
was starting to wonder since it hasnt dropped at all since i first added ammonia wasnt sure if that was normal or not

[gm72]

If the tank was seeded you should have seen a decrease in your ammonia by now. Were you able to seed the tank with old filter media or gravel or did you just fill the tank with water and add ammonia?

Raising the temperature of the tank (assuming there are no fish in there) to 85 degrees will help, bacteria propagate more readily at higher temps.

[aricall]

no sadly wasnt able to seed the tank
i dont know anyone who has an aquarium
and i raised the temp
thanks for the help everyone:19: