Cycling Help

[KDG730]

I am cycling my first tank using Dr Tims Ammonia and One and Only

2 Nights ago I dosed 4 drops of ammonia per gallon as instructed on the bottle to get to 2ppm and dumped the one and only in. Last night it only measured .5ppm so I added more. Wasn't sure if that meant it got to 2ppm and then the bacteria brought it to .5 or if it never got up to 2ppm. Im going to test again tonight

From what ive read I want it to get to 2ppm then back to 0ppm and then redose to 2ppm and see if it goes away In 24 hours.

My question is should I keep adding more until it gets to 2ppm or just let it sit? Does it take time to accumulate up or should it go right to 2ppm right when I dose the ammonia?

 

[Sod Buster]

Test for ammonia tonight and write it down or remember what it is. Figure out the drops required to get back up to 2ppm to 2.5ppm and dose the drops, preferably in a area with good flow. Set around for 15 minutes while the ammonia dilutes and is thoroughly mixed into the water and test after the 15 minutes has passed. Write that down or remember. Check again in 12 hours so you can document and be sure you are cooking. Don't go over 3.5ppm or 4ppm, as you may stall the cycle.

 

[00Barracuda00]

I'm in a very similar situation.

I've been holding off on dosing back up, and testing daily. Once I showed 0ppm, I dosed back up to ~2ppm. I've done it 3x now in roughly 3 weeks. Each time it's been faster reducing the ammonia. I just redosed last night, and expect to have 0ppm reading today.

I'm an over cautious type, so I'd just wait it out. But you do run the risk of miscalulating and overdosing the tank a bit.

 

[KDG730]

I'm in a very similar situation.

I've been holding off on dosing back up, and testing daily. Once I showed 0ppm, I dosed back up to ~2ppm. I've done it 3x now in roughly 3 weeks. Each time it's been faster reducing the ammonia. I just redosed last night, and expect to have 0ppm reading today.

I'm an over cautious type, so I'd just wait it out. But you do run the risk of miscalulating and overdosing the tank a bit.

Did you find that 4 drops per gallon dosed it to 2ppm? I guess that is part of my confusion. I will have to test right after dosing

 

[brandon429]

We've been having a bunch of new cycling threads where we haven't discussed the type of rock being used, there's two main types, and only one type requires you to add bacteria, feed them, and wait. To advise a cycling tank one must know what type of rocks you're working with... The dry kind, that need bac, or live rock, which never needs our help with bac. It doesn't even require us to feed it, live rock bacteria access their own feed from hydrated/contaminated media anyway.

What kind of rock is this tank

 

[Sod Buster]

You must have diluted ammonium chloride. Mine is one drop per gallon as per instructions.

 

[KDG730]

We've been having a bunch of new cycling threads where we haven't discussed the type of rock being used, there's two main types, and only one type requires you to add bacteria, feed them, and wait. To advise a cycling tank one must know what type of rocks you're working with... The dry kind, that need bac, or live rock, which never needs our help with bac. It doesn't even require us to feed it, live rock bacteria access their own feed from hydrated/contaminated media anyway.

What kind of rock is this tank

Dry rock that's what I added The Dr Tims One and Only

 

[KDG730]

You must have diluted ammonium chloride. Mine is one drop per gallon as per instructions.

Yeah mine says 4 I was reading they changed it a while back

 

[ekoed]

Did you start with live sand? I did mine with dr tims as well, and also dr tims one and only, (the entire bottle). My ammonia took off within 2 days, and i think my nitrites took around 4 to really get going. I then proceeded to add a little more bacteria, this time I didnt have anything left but some Top Fin, so I added a few drops of that. my cycle took about 2.5 to 3 weeks before it was safe for a fish.

 

[Sod Buster]

I also drank the dr. Tim koolaid five years ago. It worked as described and I was happy, and in the end had a successful reef. Fritz 900 has the lead today though. Very nice thread on this site to read. I used ammonia, not a fish, 3 days to cycle w/ reef cleaner dry rock.

 

[StayGolden]

i never use any products for cycling (except for seachem stability to add the bacteria). Just put a piece of shrimp (you can also you use fish food. pellets work well since they take a while to dissolve) in the water, and test everyday until ammonia gets to your desired level, then take the shrimp out, and wait for bacteria to consume it. if levels get toxic, just do a slight water change to bring them down, and continue to wait until your test read 0. with stability i always start tanks in 7 days with this method, and never had an issue.

 

[00Barracuda00]

Did you find that 4 drops per gallon dosed it to 2ppm? I guess that is part of my confusion. I will have to test right after dosing

The first dose, I meticulously counted out the 364 drops required for my tank size.

Each dose after that, I just roughly got to around 300 and called it good enough. (which is closer to 3 drops per gallon)

 

[Sod Buster]

If all you new reefers run your tanks by the 1/2 drop, the hobby is alive and well if you dose your strontium that way. Dose the ammonia, take a shower or cook supper. Test it 15 or 20 minutes after the ammonia dose to make sure it's not over 4ppm. Clean your vials up and go to bed knowing the tank is doing what you are making it do. We are not shooting missiles to the moon yet, just feeding the bacteria enough to keep it happy.

 

[KDG730]

I tested it again and its around 2ppm. So now i just wait until gets to zero then redose hoping it goes away in 24 hrs right?

 

[Sod Buster]

Yup. That is correct. What test kit are you using for ammonia?

 

[KDG730]

Yup. That is correct. What test kit are you using for ammonia?

API I think

 

[Sod Buster]

Ok. That is a little difficult to read low levels on the API. It's just they way it is. Take some fresh mixed saltwater and test that and note the color.

 

[KDG730]

Need some help

 

[KDG730]

So my ammonia has been consistently high the past few days. About 2-4ppm hard to tell maybe even a bit more. Im not sure but im thinking maybe i overdosed the ammonia to start shouldnt it be going down by now since i put the bacteria in?

Need some help what i should do from here?

 

[jabberwock]

So my ammonia has been consistently high the past few days. About 2-4ppm hard to tell maybe even a bit more. Im not sure but im thinking maybe i overdosed the ammonia to start shouldnt it be going down by now since i put the bacteria in?

Need some help what i should do from here?

Patience. Don;t test so much. Let it do its thing. You are already chasing numbers. Monitor, don't chase. Be patient.