nitrites don't show up

**vafa** · 01-11-2013, 04:33 AM

so i am trying to cycle a 1.5 gallon tank
the filter has been running for almost 2 weeks
no nitrite has shown up
the ammonia spike came quick
around the 2nd day
ammonia is at 2-3 ppm
the media i have in the filter is bio media and sponge
do i need chemical media
how long till nitrite spike

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-11-2013, 04:48 AM

Each tank is different so it's difficult to say when the nitrite should show up. Usually they do by now, but sometimes it takes a while. Seems to me like you are messing around with the filter a bit too much and I would take the advice you got in this thread.. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109329 instead of making several different threads about the same issue.

**scotchbonneteater** · 01-11-2013, 08:05 AM

Be patient, don't change any water, keep the temp around 78-82.
You have the correct media now which will help massively.
Read the sticky on fish-less cycle.

You could of asked this again at the end of your previous thread !

**Cliff** · 01-11-2013, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by mommy1

Each tank is different so it's difficult to say when the nitrite should show up. Usually they do by now, but sometimes it takes a while. Seems to me like you are messing around with the filter a bit too much and I would take the advice you got in this thread.. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109329 instead of making several different threads about the same issue.

Leave it be now and let nature take it course

Originally Posted by scotchbonneteater

Be patient, don't change any water, keep the temp around 78-82.
You have the correct media now which will help massively.
Read the sticky on fish-less cycle.

You could of asked this again at the end of your previous thread !

Please do not start multiple threads about the same cycle in the same tank. We can help you a lot better if you can keep all the questions about this same topic all in one thread and avoid double threads and double posts.

**vafa** · 01-11-2013, 10:34 PM

sorry to bug you guys
thanks

**vafa** · 01-14-2013, 01:04 AM

ok i am really becoming inpatient now
for a month i tried to cycle but was using the wrong media
now 2 weeks and still no nitrite after putting the proper media in
no nitrite
why is this happening
i dont have a heater in there right now
i was gonna put one in there after it cycled
the temp is at 19 degress
that means it still can cycle right
and i am gonna put tetra safe start in asap
now what??

**funkman262** · 01-14-2013, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by vafa

i dont have a heater in there right now
i was gonna put one in there after it cycled
the temp is at 19 degress

Well there's your problem. At that temperature, the bacteria are only growing at about half-speed. Get the temp up to at least 26C.

**Goes to 11!** · 01-14-2013, 01:21 AM

The time you spent doing it wrong doesn't count & your temp is way to low as mentioned by Funkman.

Also, I would not be dosing nearly that high considering the undoubtedly small amount of bio media you have to accommodate your BB. I would go with 1 or .75 even, You are going to be stocking shrimp right?

**imma24** · 01-14-2013, 01:31 AM

+1 with 850R - an ammonia reading of 2-3ppm is more for 10-30 gal, not 1.5 - the amount of ammonia you put in corresponds with the amount of bacteria you need to grow in the filter...and shrimp don't produce much bioload at all, therefore, they don't need that much bacteria to handle them- plus, agree with funkman that a heater would benefit the cycling.