Pulling my hair out with a cycle!!!
 

Hey everyone!

I set up a new 65g fifty-three days ago now. I have been doing a cycle WITH fish for 50 days now. From about day two thru today, my ammonia has held steady at .25ppm.

I have yet to see the presence of nitrites. None, zip, zero! So I just did a nitrate test for kicks and what would you know? I have nitrates well over .40ppm! So to recap, here's todays test results -

Ammonia - .25ppm
Nitrite - ZERO
Nitrate - a tad over .40ppm

I tested my tap water as well and nitrates directly from the tap were trace at best.

This is the most unconventional cycle I have ever seen! Anyone ever had a cycle go like this?

The fish being used are 4 Columbian Tetras and 2 Tin Foil Barbs (don't how I ended up with this combo)

For filtration I am running an Aqua Clear 110 and undergravel with two 170gph PowerHeads. The Aqua Clear is using the sponge block, carbon bag and ceramics bag.

I guess my question(s) here is, A) am I out of practice and freaking out about nothing? B) is this cycle taking unusually long? C) Should I look at slightly increasing the bio-load by adding something else nice and hardy?

This tank will likely be a community tank with an emphasis on angels.

Thanks for reading!!!

Matt

oops! didn't realize I put this in the saltwater forum....thanks for moving!

I tested my tap water as well and nitrates directly from the tap were trace at best.

This is the most unconventional cycle I have ever seen! Anyone ever had a cycle go like this?

The fish being used are 4 Columbian Tetras and 2 Tin Foil Barbs (don't how I ended up with this combo)

For filtration I am running an Aqua Clear 110 and undergravel with two 170gph PowerHeads. The Aqua Clear is using the sponge block, carbon bag and ceramics bag.

I guess my question(s) here is, A) am I out of practice and freaking out about nothing? B) is this cycle taking unusually long? C) Should I look at slightly increasing the bio-load by adding something else nice and hardy?

This tank will likely be a community tank with an emphasis on angels.

Thanks for reading!!!

Matt[/quote]

Try testing tapwater for ammonia ? Would use water conditioner such as PRIME or AMQUEL PLUS that detoxify ammonia along with chlorine and chloramines.
Might get second opinion on test results if strip style test's are being used.

Thanks! I will check the tap for ammo tonight.

The test kit I am using is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals....been using their stuff for 20 years now so I am pretty confident in the results.

I guess what I don't understand is why I have such high nitrates now. I mean obviously the cycle is not complete because I still have ammo but I just dont understand why the nitries are not present.

I'd test deminerallized water, or well boiled water for ammonia with the test.
That way you can tell if your tests are showing false positive.

I had false positive ammonia liquid tests, which worked well while ammonia was higher. Those were by Sera and the colour was between 0 and 0.5 but defo not a zero, yet im 100% sure i had no ammonia in the demineralized water.

No nitrites might just mean the second stage of the cycle is catching up with the first. My thoughts since your nitrates surely are rising.

+1. My water is .50 ammonia straight out of the tap. :-(