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Thread: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

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    cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

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    4 weeks ago i reset my 4 ft shrimp tank but until today it is still very high in ammonia (maximum the test kit can measure)

    i had reused the old media (biohome) in my canister hoping that it will speed up cycling, but the bacteria inside was probably killed by the chlorine since day one

    my new soil is ADA soil and i also added some BT9

    i added some plants and they seem to be doing well

    do i need to do anything or wait for another 1-2 weeks?

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    4 weeks is very long, even if the original
    BB was destroyed on the first day. Normally, bb takes 2-3'weeks to be established. When did you add the soil? Did you make any changes to the media?

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mystikboy View Post
    4 weeks is very long, even if the original
    BB was destroyed on the first day. Normally, bb takes 2-3'weeks to be established. When did you add the soil? Did you make any changes to the media?
    this was what i did:
    - i shifted my livestocks to a temporary tank and kept the main canister running at the temporary tank
    - i then took about 1 week to clear out and wash my 4ft tank

    - on 21 Apr i did the following
    - i got a temporary canister, transferred a tray of media from main canister to the temporary canister
    - connected the temporary canister to the temporary tank with livestock
    - added ADA soil + BT9 to main tank
    - fill up main tank with tap water
    - connect back the main canister to the main tank and start cycling
    - added some plants to the main tank (no fish)

    i tested the main tank every week and so far it is high ammonia but no nitrate / nitrite

    the temporary tank is ok without ammonia...

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Have you been doing water changes, which would have helped decrease the amount ammonia? And how much soil is there?

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mystikboy View Post
    Have you been doing water changes, which would have helped decrease the amount ammonia? And how much soil is there?
    i didn't do much water change - only 1-2 times about 5-10%

    is it important?

    2 large (8L) packs of soil about 5cm high

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Hmm
    Shouldn't be that much ammonia buildup. I Suggest Doing a large water change, about 50%, and monitor from there

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Errhhmmm... do big water changes to reduce the ammonia to a testable level first. The amount of ammonia in your water column now may have overwhelmed the bacteria colony's ability to process the ammonia. ADA soil keeps releasing ammonia for the first few weeks so if the levels are beyond the capabilities of your bacteria colony, it'll be unlikely to see it come down at all. Do check your PH as well, I've experienced low PH (5) stalling my cycling before.

    Normally, I keep my cycling tanks at 3-4ppm at most.... if the test shows 0 ammonia 24hours later for 3 days then I will introduce livestocks. I ever managed to cycle a new tank using old filter media in 2 weeks before.

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by davincey View Post
    Errhhmmm... do big water changes to reduce the ammonia to a testable level first. The amount of ammonia in your water column now may have overwhelmed the bacteria colony's ability to process the ammonia. ADA soil keeps releasing ammonia for the first few weeks so if the levels are beyond the capabilities of your bacteria colony, it'll be unlikely to see it come down at all. Do check your PH as well, I've experienced low PH (5) stalling my cycling before.

    Normally, I keep my cycling tanks at 3-4ppm at most.... if the test shows 0 ammonia 24hours later for 3 days then I will introduce livestocks. I ever managed to cycle a new tank using old filter media in 2 weeks before.
    that's a logical explanation...
    will check my PH...

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Just to add... whats the dimensions/volume of your 4ft tank? In larger tanks, the cycle process can take comparatively longer than in smaller tanks.
    :: Urban Aquaria ::
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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    it is a 4x1.5x1.5 tank - should be around 200l

    just tested the PH - it is close to 6.0

    will do more water change and test again this weekend

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Erm...you mentioned that you "had reused the old media (biohome) in my canister hoping that it will speed up cycling, but the bacteria inside was probably killed by the chlorine since day one".

    Why was there chlorine to begin with? What kind of water did you use and how did you treat it?

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by gentle View Post
    it is a 4x1.5x1.5 tank - should be around 200l

    just tested the PH - it is close to 6.0

    will do more water change and test again this weekend
    Yeah, that works out to around 243+ litres... i guess that volume of water would take abit longer to cycle than the more common 50-60+ litre 2ft tanks most here keep.
    :: Urban Aquaria ::
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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    What test kit you used that shows that its full of ammonia ? The test kit is also measuring the total of ammonium and ammonia confirm. Ph lower than 7 will be ammonium which is harmless. Above 7 ph will be ammonia which is harmful and toxic. When i first started adding in ada soil in my tank with a 6month old canister filter, the test kit still shows the highest indication of ammonia but on that day after , put in my group of discus and they have no problem . When using the ammonia test product from seachem that come with a suction cup, and it did mot detect any ammonia at all
    Last edited by sawzai; 21st May 2013 at 23:16.

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by Navanod View Post
    Erm...you mentioned that you "had reused the old media (biohome) in my canister hoping that it will speed up cycling, but the bacteria inside was probably killed by the chlorine since day one".

    Why was there chlorine to begin with? What kind of water did you use and how did you treat it?
    i filled up the tank with water direct from my tap

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by sawzai View Post
    What test kit you used that shows that its full of ammonia ? The test kit is also measuring the total of ammonium and ammonia confirm. Ph lower than 7 will be ammonium which is harmless. Above 7 ph will be ammonia which is harmful and toxic. When i first started adding in ada soil in my tank with a 6month old canister filter, the test kit still shows the highest indication of ammonia but on that day after , put in my group of discus and they have no problem . When using the ammonia test product from seachem that come with a suction cup, and it did mot detect any ammonia at all
    i use this API test kit
    http://www.apifishcare.com/product.p...catid=0&id=582

    after 4 weeks it is still showing the maximum level...

    my temporary tank is showing 0 so there is nothing wrong with the test kit

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria View Post
    Yeah, that works out to around 243+ litres... i guess that volume of water would take abit longer to cycle than the more common 50-60+ litre 2ft tanks most here keep.
    when i first did up the tank with new media and mosura sand (with a few fishes), the cycling was done within 4 weeks

    now the difference is that i use ADA soil and fishless cycling (same set of equipment)

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by gentle View Post
    i use this API test kit
    http://www.apifishcare.com/product.p...catid=0&id=582

    after 4 weeks it is still showing the maximum level...

    my temporary tank is showing 0 so there is nothing wrong with the test kit
    how long have your temporary tank been running ?
    yup nothing is wrong with your test kit. your tank is full of ammonium and not ammonia
    after i put my discus in , it took me 1.5 - 2months later to shows 0 ammonia/ammonium

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by gentle View Post
    when i first did up the tank with new media and mosura sand (with a few fishes), the cycling was done within 4 weeks

    now the difference is that i use ADA soil and fishless cycling (same set of equipment)
    ADA aqua soil (new from bag) would usually release more ammonia for a longer period of time, so i guess that probably result in longer cycle. More large water changes should help remove the excess ammonia.

    Btw, if you do add in fishes when the ammonia readings are still high but with low pH, do be careful when doing large water changes, as that might inadvertently swing pH back up too quickly (as our tap water usually has neutral to alkaline pH) and a percentage of the harmless ammonium might turn to harmful ammonia in just that instant, some fishes and shrimps might not be able to take that sudden spike. Thats why some people report that their shrimps or fishes started dying after a larger water change, could be that reason.
    Last edited by Urban Aquaria; 22nd May 2013 at 15:58.
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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by sawzai View Post
    how long have your temporary tank been running ?
    yup nothing is wrong with your test kit. your tank is full of ammonium and not ammonia
    after i put my discus in , it took me 1.5 - 2months later to shows 0 ammonia/ammonium
    really? the test kit says "ammonia"
    i am planning to keep CRS so will only add them when everything is 0

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    Re: cycle tank for 4 weeks still full of ammonia?

    Quote Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria View Post
    ADA aqua soil (new from bag) would usually release more ammonia for a longer period of time, so i guess that probably result in longer cycle. More large water changes should help remove the excess ammonia.

    Btw, if you do add in fishes when the ammonia readings are still high but with low pH, do be careful when doing large water changes, as that might inadvertently swing pH back up too quickly (as our tap water usually has neutral to alkaline pH) and a percentage of the harmless ammonium might turn to harmful ammonia in just that instant, some fishes and shrimps might not be able to take that sudden spike. Thats why some people report that their shrimps or fishes started dying after a larger water change, could be that reason.
    noted.
    maybe i'll change a small pail of water every day...easier for me (not sure if it is going to be effective or not)

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