A couple of questions on fishless cycle

[KevinVA]

I've read how to Fishless Cycle and I've been reading several other threads about it, in addition to having several questions of my own, answered. I still had a couple of questions, however, that I suppose is specific to my needs:

I started dosing 4ppm ammonia, when I started. It took about a week and a half to 2 weeks before I started seeing nitrites. The first time I did and my ammonia dropped to 2ppm, I redosed to 4ppm again. The other day, my ammonia dropped to 0ppm, so I dosed to 2ppm. Today, my ammonia dropped to 0ppm and I dosed to 2ppm again. My nitrites have remained 5+ppm.

My question is this: Should I continue to dose 2ppm per day that my ammonia drops to 0ppm, until my nitrates spike, or should I drop the dose to 1ppm per day, and continue doing that until I add fish?

Once my cycle is complete, and I have a reading of nitrates with 0ppm ammonia & 0ppm nitrites, should I fully stock the aquarium or would it be safe to add a few fish at a time? If I add a few fish at a time, how should I continue to feed my bacteria colonies? I assume that only a few fish and their waste would pale in comparison to dosing with pure ammonia.

Thanks, as always!

[Gogi]

I think you should keep dosing 1 ppm until your nitrites drop to 0 along with the ammonia and get your nirate readings. Then your cycle should be done.I read that too much ammonia might shock the nitrifying bacteria. I'm not a chemist lol that's just what I read online. I believe you can all your whole stock after a big water change to lower your nitrates.

Google "ammonia fish less cycle" and new articles are constantly popping up.

[KevinVA]

I think you should keep dosing 2 ppm until your nitrites drop to 0 along with the ammonia. Then your cycle should be done. I believe you can all your whole stock after a big water change to lower your nitrates.

That'll do it. Thanks Gogi!

[Gogi]

Oops I edited that post Kevin. I ment 1 ppm and wrote the reason why. Sorry about that

[KevinVA]

Oops I edited that post Kevin. I ment 1 ppm and wrote the reason why. Sorry about that

Hey, no prob. Thanks for the update. =] I've read a few threads about fishless cycling on here and it seems up in the air about what to do after you've cut your dose in half. I appreciate the info. I'll cut it down to 1ppm tomorrow and see how that goes. I know my nitrates are building up, because the test is a light orange color, but not quite 5ppm... maybe I'm shocking it with too much ammonia and the nitrosoma are having a field day (since that hasn't come down at all).

[pjaldave]

If your nitrites are off the chart, a huge water change will help speed things up.

[Goes to 11!]

I've read a few threads about fishless cycling on here and it seems up in the air about what to do after you've cut your dose in half.

It isn't, Re-read the sticky.

[Honey Badger 1]

You are not "shocking it". When we say you are stalling the cycle it means you are adding ammonia to the point where it reads off the scale, 2ppm will not do that. There is no need to do a water change either. The ammonia is dropping to 0 each day and you have nitrates, the cycle is progressing fine. Just keep doing what you are doing. When the cycle is complete, the types of fish you want will determine how many you can stock at first. This is because your tank will be cycled but not mature. If you are worried about how high the nitrites are going then skip a day adding the ammonia, one day will not kill your cycle.

[KevinVA]

It isn't, Re-read the sticky.

I've re-read it 30 times... In fact, I've had it open at home from the day I started fishless cycling, because that's how I roll.

"As the ammonia level decreases you will began to start testing daily for Ammonia and Nitrite levels. When you began to see nitrites on your tester, then only dose one/half of your starting dose. One time each day only."

That sounds fine, until you've read:

"You should be able to detect a rise in nitrites within 10-14 days as the Nitrobacter bacteria begans to grow. As those nitrites level rise, now is the time to reduce the amount of ammonia you are adding each day to perhaps one/half your starting dose. (Not reducing the ammonia at this point may inhibit your cycle from finishing.)" (which is the next paragraph)."

I'm not sure if the same thing is being said twice, or if the next paragraph is the next step. I first read this as continuing to dose at half my starting point of 4ppm and continue to dose at 2ppm. Then, after reading several other threads, I found that halving that to 1ppm was the correct measure (as was said in this thread).

I do know that there is still confusion on the thread, by the amount of questions concerning cycling. Sure, some people don't know the thread exists, but some have referenced it in their questions.

An end to the confusion must be had!

Don't take this the wrong way. The instructions are great, but I think it needs to be a little more clear (at least on that point) for those of us who are special. ;]

[KevinVA]

If your nitrites are off the chart, a huge water change will help speed things up.

Problem is, you really can't tell if they're off the charts or not, you know? haha I assume the color for 5ppm Nitrites is the same color as 10+ppm.

You are not "shocking it". When we say you are stalling the cycle it means you are adding ammonia to the point where it reads off the scale, 2ppm will not do that. There is no need to do a water change either. The ammonia is dropping to 0 each day and you have nitrates, the cycle is progressing fine. Just keep doing what you are doing. When the cycle is complete, the types of fish you want will determine how many you can stock at first. This is because your tank will be cycled but not mature. If you are worried about how high the nitrites are going then skip a day adding the ammonia, one day will not kill your cycle.

Thank you Mommy1, I appreciate the input. =]