Ammonia level on cycling tank

W

WhataMack

Registered Member
Dec 5, 2015
3
0
1
65
Hi, I have a question about ammonia levels on a tank I've been cycling for three weeks. I check the ammonia level every day and the lowest level has been staying at 0.25 ppm, for the past week.

Here's some info on my setup:
  • 55 gal. freshwater tank with fake plants, and live frogbit floating plants covering about 20% of the surface.
  • Filter: New Fluval 306 with default supplied media (activated carbon, BioMax rings and foam), running at full flow rate
  • Water: Changing 15 gallons every one to two days, with Fluval Cycle Biological Booster (i.e., adding bacteria) added at recommended rate of 10 ml / 10 gallons. pH is 6.8.
  • Fish: 12 neon tetras, looking very healthy.
  • Food: Micro pellets, feeding once per day and it's fully eaten between two to three minutes.

Does this ammonia level sound typical at this point? If not, is there something else I should be doing to stimulate more bacterial growth to get the ammonia down to 0.0 ppm? Thanks in advance for any help.
 
have you tested for NitItes and NitrAte yet ? knowing those would help to be able to see what part of the cycle you are in
 
With the amount of water you're replacing, you're keeping your ammonia levels down about as low as you can. Your fish will appreciate this. However, at the low levels you're maintaining, your cycle will take a while. Track it by testing on a schedule, say, before and after a water change. Log the results. Also check nitrite and about every other water change check nitrate. Eventually you will see a crest in the nitrite. As this falls off you will see a rise in nitrate. When your tests read zero on ammonia and nitrite, and your nitrates continue to rise, the tank is cycled.

Mark
 
@NeverFadeAway86, I tested Nitrite and Nitrate just now. Nitrite is between 0.5 and 0.2 ppm; Nitrate is at 10 ppm. Do those sound about right for this point in the cycle?

@wesleydnunder, I'm really diligent about recording the ammonia levels every morning, after water changes. I'll also take your advice on the schedule for nitrite and nitrate checking.

Should I change a greater amount of water when I do a change? 15 gallons is about 25% of 55 gallons, and I've read that you shouldn't change much over that.
 
Sounds about right, keep up with the water changes. 25% is about right but larger wouldnt hurt.
Imo i would stop using the bacteria in a bottle, bacteria needs a food source just like anything else and they dont get that in a bottle so all you are adding is dead bacteria.
 
well the good new is you are starting to see Nitrates. once you see those you know that your tank is converting NitrItes to NitrAtes and this is the final step of the cycle but it can take awhile to get to the end.

once you are cycled you would want to see Ammonia 0 ppm NitrIte 0 ppm and Nitrate 20 ppm or less
 
Liquid test kit?
 
Mack, any chance at getting some seeded filtration media to put in your filter? I'd go real light on the feeding (don't feed every day of the week) until you see nothing but nitrates.
 
could have bought the fish and then found out about cycling afterwards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom