Cycle "stuck" advice?

cjj14u · 11/05/2009, 07:28 PM

Been cycling my 34 gal. with 40 lbs Carib Sea "Dead Sand" and 55 lbs live rock that was fully cured (but was in transit for 3 days so had to have SOME die off) for 5 weeks.
For the past 3 weeks the Ammonia has been "stuck" at 0.25 and Nitrite has been "stuck" at 0.05. Measured Nitrate today for the very first time and got 10 ppm.
Have tried tossing a couple of raw cocktail shrimp in but had to remove them after 2 days or risk a divorce (smell)...

Even after the shrimp....I know they were only in for two days BUT the smell said something was decaying....same exact readings.....
No "spike" at all but clearly is not fully cycled either.....
Almost does not seem right.....
Any sage advice?

Thanks.

bertoni · 11/05/2009, 07:45 PM

The ammonia kit might be bad. It's fairly common for kits to fail in that way. I'd get a second opinion from a LFS. The tank hasn't been up all that long, though, so more waiting might help, too.

BLOCLVL · 11/05/2009, 07:56 PM

I have the same exact time frame on my new setup of a 24 gal.and have the same readings as yours. only difference is I have been cycling with Damsels,but the readings are truly the same.
Can I ask what type of kit are you using?
I have the Red Sea kit,by chance do you have the same?

cjj14u · 11/05/2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLOCLVL

I have the same exact time frame on my new setup of a 24 gal.and have the same readings as yours. only difference is I have been cycling with Damsels,but the readings are truly the same.
Can I ask what type of kit are you using?
I have the Red Sea kit,by chance do you have the same?

Huh...funny....YES it is the Red Sea Kit.....

bertoni · 11/05/2009, 08:11 PM

The Red Sea kits have a bad reputation for failing. I ended up returning mine. The liquid reagent approach is supposed to be less stable, chemically.

BLOCLVL · 11/05/2009, 08:40 PM

I have heard that Salifert is a better kit.Have you heard that?
I haven't purchased one yet but i have a friend who has one on the way.
I'll get him to give it a try as I (like you) don't know where I am with my cycle,hope I can find out.

bertoni · 11/05/2009, 08:44 PM

I have had good luck with the Salifert and Instant Ocean ammonia kits, but they'll all fail eventually. The Red Sea kits just seem to fail rapidly.

arredondojason · 11/05/2009, 08:45 PM

all i use is salifert and love them.
i think you should wait a little longer as well.

11/05/2009, 07:28 PM	#1
cjj14u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 147	Cycle "stuck" advice? Been cycling my 34 gal. with 40 lbs Carib Sea "Dead Sand" and 55 lbs live rock that was fully cured (but was in transit for 3 days so had to have SOME die off) for 5 weeks. For the past 3 weeks the Ammonia has been "stuck" at 0.25 and Nitrite has been "stuck" at 0.05. Measured Nitrate today for the very first time and got 10 ppm. Have tried tossing a couple of raw cocktail shrimp in but had to remove them after 2 days or risk a divorce (smell)... Even after the shrimp....I know they were only in for two days BUT the smell said something was decaying....same exact readings..... No "spike" at all but clearly is not fully cycled either..... Almost does not seem right..... Any sage advice? Thanks.

11/05/2009, 07:45 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The ammonia kit might be bad. It's fairly common for kits to fail in that way. I'd get a second opinion from a LFS. The tank hasn't been up all that long, though, so more waiting might help, too. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/05/2009, 08:11 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The Red Sea kits have a bad reputation for failing. I ended up returning mine. The liquid reagent approach is supposed to be less stable, chemically. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/05/2009, 08:44 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I have had good luck with the Salifert and Instant Ocean ammonia kits, but they'll all fail eventually. The Red Sea kits just seem to fail rapidly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/05/2009, 07:56 PM	#3
BLOCLVL Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 11	I have the same exact time frame on my new setup of a 24 gal.and have the same readings as yours. only difference is I have been cycling with Damsels,but the readings are truly the same. Can I ask what type of kit are you using? I have the Red Sea kit,by chance do you have the same?

11/05/2009, 08:40 PM	#6
BLOCLVL Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 11	I have heard that Salifert is a better kit.Have you heard that? I haven't purchased one yet but i have a friend who has one on the way. I'll get him to give it a try as I (like you) don't know where I am with my cycle,hope I can find out.

11/05/2009, 08:45 PM	#8
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	all i use is salifert and love them. i think you should wait a little longer as well.