Trouble cycling new tank

[cyberCoder]

Hi

I have been trying to use fishless cycle a brand new 10-15 gallon tank and haven't gotten success for 30 days. My setup is a hang-on protein skimmer, no substrate, quite some marine pure balls in a in-tank filter ( on the side of the tank separated by glass panels ). I am trying to learn before buying a bigger tank.

3 days ago, I decided to replace all the water and started again. I put in ammonia chloride powder ( used Dr Tim's Ammonia before during the 30 days, but wondering if the Ammonia source was the problem). I am also using the seeder ( Brightwell Aquatics ABABAC500 Microbacter7 Liquid Water Conditioners for Aquarium ) , Here are the test results :

Feb-21 : Ammonia 1.5 , Nitrite 0 , Nitrate 0
Feb-22 : Ammonia 1.5 , Nitrite 0 , Nitrate 0
Feb-23 11AM : Ammonia 2 , Nitrite 0.2 , Nitrate 0
Feb-23 8PM : Ammonia 1.0 - 1.5 , Nitrite (almost 0 ) , Nitrate ( very light color, maybe 0.5 - 1 )

I have added a picture to show the Nitrite change during the day.

I have been quite confused and not sure what to do. Should I just wait for another day, should I add some ammonia?

[mcgyvr]

You just wait..no need to add anymore ammonia..
I think your expectations may be off..
What exactly was the "problem" last time...

How much rock do you have? Was it dry or live rock? If live rock was it locally sourced and kept wet/damp..?

[Kriegad]

Just need patience. I dosed the Dr. Tim’s ammonia chloride liquid when I cycled my tank and it seems like it took about a week before I started getting nitrite spike if I remember correctly. Probably take 2-3 weeks to fully cycle.

[bhbell]

Only bad things happen fast in this hobby. Continue to test and record. Watch the cycle progress. After cycle, add some clean up crew and watch your testing. With that small volume you will expect a small cycle every time you add a new animal. It's been my experience that a larger tank is easier to keep stable than a smaller tank.

[cyberCoder]

I feel the problem last time is the cycle seems to have stalled. I totally accept that this may be my bad patience after the 30 days. But what seems to happen at that time was that Ammonia didn't drop anymore and the Nitrite wasn't rising either.

I use dry rock only and about 9LB. Again, I don't have any substrate so I thought that may be a problem. But I have "a lot" of marine pure balls and two air stones in them.

Here is what happened in the last two days. I waited and continue to dose the bacteria.

Feb-24 9PM : Ammonia 1.0 - 1.5 , Nitrite (almost 0 ) , meaning no change....

All the tests that I have done are using Salifert. So I got a API Ammonia test today, and completely surprised me, the API Ammonia test kit is showing Black result meaning > 8ppm Ammonia.

I have attached the pictures, which one should I trust?

Now should I replace all these water again? .........

[Kriegad]

Wow! That’s quite a descrepency. Maybe you should take a known volume of fresh water and dose a known amount of ammonium chloride to get a theoretical ppm of ammonia, and check ammonia with both kits to see which one is correct? If you are at 8 ppm probably do a 75% water change to get to 2 ppm and then just let it ride? Remember you are growing bacteria on the surfaces and not in the water itself.

[Daddi0]

Do you have any pumps/powerheads moving water in your tank?
Cheers! Mark