Do I keep adding ammonia?

[houdini56]

I've spent a while cruising this forum hoping to find an answer but I'm still not clear so will just post my question.

I started my new 40g tank 6 days ago with some StartSmart someone gave me. Fishless cycling, just one little banana plant, nothing else in tank yet (though have plants arriving soon!). Immediately tested 4 ppm ammonia, and that reading has stayed constant (via API Freshwater testing kit) all week.

Yesterday nitrites showed up at 0.25 ppm -- today they are showing at somewhere between 2-5 ppm (not much difference in color on the kit chart between those two). Ammonia is still testing at 4 ppm.

My understanding was that 4 ppm was a good target for the ammonia, and as I've stayed at 4 ppm all week I haven't added anymore.

But I'd like some feedback on whether this is correct or not. Thanks!

[mommy1]

Don't add any more ammonia until it test 0ppm with your API test.

After googling that SmartStart I would advise you to stop using it. It most likely will not hurt anything, but it isn't doing anything either. The only thing you need to add to your water is a good dechlorinator. I use Prime because it is very concentrated and a bottle of it lasts quite a while.

[houdini56]

Thanks much, Mommy1. Glad to hear I'm on track. Also, I only used the small bottle of SmartStart that was given me initially, and have ammonia to use for the rest of the cycle when needed.

Fortunately, I don't need a dechlorinator as we are on well water with numerous filters on it. It does have its own issues but at least chlorine isn't one of them!

[FROGGY]

Kind of off the beaten path, but i really do believe that "patience" which many new fish keepers lack. And trust me i was there myself years ago. If given time most all setups will find their own perfection, its like hybrid fishes, what we already had was pefection, but for some reason, humans just gotta tinker with stuff. :)

[houdini56]

Yes, Froggy, I can relate to what you are saying. Opportunities to practice patience and acceptance present themselves all the time in my life, and I frequently view them as frustrations! Still, more and more (as I'm getting older) I'm able to just relax.

I admit to feeling torn with my new tank. I've been photographing the progress (or trying to) and that's cool. Yesterday I received my first plant order, and not sure whether that's going to cool my jets a bit or just make me long to see fish even more!

Regardless, the cycling is a process and it will take its course in spite of my desires and that's just fine. Instead of looking forward today I'm going to enjoy my planted tank as is.

[Slaphppy7]

Yes, patience is key...my fishless cycle took 4 weeks, almost to the day...but while i was waiting I had plenty of time to plan how I would aquascape and which fish I would like to keep

[houdini56]

My fish list seems pretty mercurial....fairly set on species but so many variations to choose from within each species.

My current list is danios, rasboras, corys, shrimp, and a maybe on tetras. But! now I see you have marbled hatchets in with corys and tetras so I'm thinking I'd better check out those hatchets, lol.

[Slaphppy7]

Oh yeah, we love the hatchets, they are alot of fun to watch...love their unique shape..they are my top-dwellers, the tetras occupy the middle, and the corys rule the bottom