Tank Cycle

fernalfer · 05/03/2016, 05:26 PM

Ok so i used Fritzzyme 9 to help my cycle along. Dosed the tank with pure ammonia and in 4 days ammonia was brought to zero with nitrites thru the roof no nitrates yet. Question, do i continue dosing the pure ammonia throughout this cycle to keep the bacteria fed?

If so should i dose to 1ppm or 2ppm daily, every other day, not really sure on this part if someone could elaborate.

WWIII · 05/03/2016, 05:39 PM

I would dose to 2 ppm whenever the ammonia falls to around .25 ppm. Keep testing for nitrites and when these start to fall lower you are getting closer to the end of the cycle. Keep dosing to 2ppm until both ammonia and nitrites can be converted to 0 within 24 hrs or less. The initial nitrite decline will take some time but it will happen!

fernalfer · 05/03/2016, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWIII

I would dose to 2 ppm whenever the ammonia falls to around .25 ppm. Keep testing for nitrites and when these start to fall lower you are getting closer to the end of the cycle. Keep dosing to 2ppm until both ammonia and nitrites can be converted to 0 within 24 hrs or less. The initial nitrite decline will take some time but it will happen!

OK will due thanks.

thegrun · 05/03/2016, 07:14 PM

NO, NO NO!!! Do not keep adding ammonia, it will slow down your cycle and leave you with very high nitrates at the end of the cycle. Add ammonia once and you are done. The bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrites and the ones that convert nitrites to nitrates can live a year in your tank without food, no need to keep adding more ammonia.

crocogator106 · 05/03/2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

no, no no!!! Do not keep adding ammonia, it will slow down your cycle and leave you with very high nitrates at the end of the cycle. Add ammonia once and you are done. The bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrites and the ones that convert nitrites to nitrates can live a year in your tank without food, no need to keep adding more ammonia.

+1

WWIII · 05/03/2016, 07:45 PM

Hmm? Guess it doesn't matter how long it take to reduce ammonia to zero. Listen to them, they know more than me. I have always wanted to make sure I know my tank can handle a good amount of ammonia in a short time, but I guess thats not the case anymore. Sorry about that and good luck!

fernalfer · 05/04/2016, 04:17 PM

yeah i get mixed advice on this. People say dose 2ppm when ammonia gets to 0 to keep the bacteria fed. Then some say no don't dose leave it alone. Left confused i guess.

05/03/2016, 05:26 PM	#1
fernalfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 553	Tank Cycle Ok so i used Fritzzyme 9 to help my cycle along. Dosed the tank with pure ammonia and in 4 days ammonia was brought to zero with nitrites thru the roof no nitrates yet. Question, do i continue dosing the pure ammonia throughout this cycle to keep the bacteria fed? If so should i dose to 1ppm or 2ppm daily, every other day, not really sure on this part if someone could elaborate.

05/03/2016, 05:39 PM	#2
WWIII Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 158	I would dose to 2 ppm whenever the ammonia falls to around .25 ppm. Keep testing for nitrites and when these start to fall lower you are getting closer to the end of the cycle. Keep dosing to 2ppm until both ammonia and nitrites can be converted to 0 within 24 hrs or less. The initial nitrite decline will take some time but it will happen!

05/03/2016, 07:14 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	NO, NO NO!!! Do not keep adding ammonia, it will slow down your cycle and leave you with very high nitrates at the end of the cycle. Add ammonia once and you are done. The bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrites and the ones that convert nitrites to nitrates can live a year in your tank without food, no need to keep adding more ammonia.

05/03/2016, 07:45 PM	#6
WWIII Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 158	Hmm? Guess it doesn't matter how long it take to reduce ammonia to zero. Listen to them, they know more than me. I have always wanted to make sure I know my tank can handle a good amount of ammonia in a short time, but I guess thats not the case anymore. Sorry about that and good luck!

05/04/2016, 04:17 PM	#7
fernalfer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 553	yeah i get mixed advice on this. People say dose 2ppm when ammonia gets to 0 to keep the bacteria fed. Then some say no don't dose leave it alone. Left confused i guess.