I just don't get it.

**Uihawk98** · 10-21-2009, 02:42 PM

Long story short--started a fishless cycle in early August. Sabotaged my cycle mid-September by changing from a 29 gal. to a 40 gallon tank. The cycle was almost finished in the 29. Now my ammo is 4.0 and has been there solid for over a month. Nitrites are 0.25. To make matters worse, we had a power outage about a week ago, so I suppose that killed my cycle and I am back to square one again. If the cycle is that fragile, I really wonder if it's worth all the work it takes to keep it "fine tuned". Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

**Lab_Rat** · 10-21-2009, 02:50 PM

How did you "sabotage" your cycle when you switched tanks? If you transferred all the same filters/media/substrate/decor you would have the bacteria you need. Unless you did something like adding chlorinated water, that would wipe out the cycle.

How long was the power out? Did the media dry out? If it was out for only a day or so the bacteria should be fine.

What is this "fine tuning" you're doing? Pretty much you can walk away for several days at a time, even for a week. No need to do anything til the ammonia drops below 1-2ppm. When it does that, then you add a little ammonia, but til then, nothing you need to do but wait.

**Northernguy** · 10-21-2009, 03:01 PM

I am guessing that you do not know anyone close by that has a healthy running aquarium?
Getting a bit of media would get you started much quicker.
I have no idea why your cycle doesn't want to get going.

**Lolita** · 10-21-2009, 03:04 PM

I wonder if you're having the same problem I am having at home? My pH at home is VERY low, so I suspect that because of that my bacteria may be taking MUCH longer to grow.

I only suspect that because my pH at my office is extremely high, and I was showing nitrites within a week there--where it took my tank at home over a month.

Test the pH in your tap? I don't know that there's much you can do other than wait, but it might make you feel better to know why it's taking so long.

**rangur1** · 10-28-2009, 12:29 PM

yea, your troubles are not adding up here. you seem to be getting "sabotaged" by some type of oversight. if you are cycling with ammonia using chlorine neutralized water of around ph 6.5-8.0 at anywhere between 75-80 degrees fahrenheit, your tank should completely cycle in about 4 weeks. give or take a week generally. if you start adding cycle boosts or whatnot, then you could drag this process out much longer.

when you changed from 29 to a 40gal, how did you do it? list step by step please. maybe we can pinpoint possible misstep.