Fresh start - Can't get ammonia to start cycle

[mattheo]

Helo,

I get a 40G Breeder, some pukani rocked I treated for PO4 leaching (rock is not supposedly dead -> muriatic acid, bleach, seaklear).

I used RODI mixe with salt at 1.025, some live sand (fiji pink araga-live) and a bottle of bio-spira.

Now I am adding daily some fish food flakes as advised in the sticky thread in this forum, this since I started the tank 7 days ago.

I have been tested daily with API basic Am/NO3/NO4 test plus the NO3 from Red Sea, and it seems I cannot get my ammonia levels up. I have had a short Ammonia spike at 2ppm, then back to zero few days later. My NO3 are zero all the time, and my NO4 are oscillating between 0 and 2ppm.

Am I doing something wrong? Some friend of mine mentionned adding a dead shrimp in a plastic back to decay and produce Ammonia, what do you think it?

Or... am I ready to have one or two fishes to speed up process?

[Kyle918]

Helo,

I get a 40G Breeder, some pukani rocked I treated for PO4 leaching (rock is not supposedly dead -> muriatic acid, bleach, seaklear).

I used RODI mixe with salt at 1.025, some live sand (fiji pink araga-live) and a bottle of bio-spira.

Now I am adding daily some fish food flakes as advised in the sticky thread in this forum, this since I started the tank 7 days ago.

I have been tested daily with API basic Am/NO3/NO4 test plus the NO3 from Red Sea, and it seems I cannot get my ammonia levels up. I have had a short Ammonia spike at 2ppm, then back to zero few days later. My NO3 are zero all the time, and my NO4 are oscillating between 0 and 2ppm.

Am I doing something wrong? Some friend of mine mentionned adding a dead shrimp in a plastic back to decay and produce Ammonia, what do you think it?

Or... am I ready to have one or two fishes to speed up process?

First off, you have your chemistry wrong...

Ammonia = NH3
Ammonium = NH4
Nitrites = NO2
Nitrate = NO3

It sounds like you may have been lucky and got a good bottle of live bacteria as well as good live sand. It seems that you are cycling quickly from the looks of your ammonia spiking, then falling quickly. Here is a quick run down just in case your cycle hasn't started yet which is more likely in a 7 day old tank.

During the nitrogen cycle, you add an ammonia source. You know this cycle is working when you register an increase in NH3. After some time, your NH3 levels will drop but your NO2 levels should increase steadily. After some more time, your NO2 levels will drop and your NO3 levels should increase. Once your NH3 and NO2 levels have dropped to zero and you are registering NO3, then you cycle is complete. Normally at this point you perform a water change to reduce the NO3 concentration and to remove any detrius that you may find. I also think it is a good idea to let the tank continue to circulate empty for another week or so but continue to ghost feed the tank. If you are consitently registering zero NH3 and NO2, then you know your cycle has indeed finished as the bacteria are successfully taking care of that ammonia source no problem. At this point you can add your CUC and fish....slowly...one at a time. Maybe one a month or two as that is the normal time fish should spend in QT before introduced into the DT.

Also, as your friend mentioned, a normal cocktail shrimp from the grocery store is a great ammonia source as well as food for your CUC that you will add shortly after the cycle is complete.

[mattheo]

Thank you for your comment, I can't edit my elements mistakes but you get my issue ;)

I don't have a QT yet, I will keep on testing daily for the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate then for a week and see how it evolves.

[Kyle918]

It's ok. I read it quickly then went back and I'm thinking...wait, this is confusing then just assumed it was mixed up.

A QT is your friend! It'll provide you with a safety net and keep your DT healthier long term.

I would just throw in a shrimp though. That will produce a good bit of ammonia for weeks as it breaks down. You should see a good spike after a few days of that sitting in the tank. This way you can stop ghost feeding and you don't have to wonder if you are throwing in enough food or not to spike your ammonia as your expecting. It may get a little stinky though but it shouldn't be too bad.

[ebacon]

+1 on the shrimp

[mattheo]

Okay the shrimp is in the tank since quite 2 weeks and it works great!

I clearly saw Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate spikes as they cycled.

Next week I will put a clean-up crew.

Thanks for the help

Matt