What if the ammonia levels have been stuck at this level for a week? I’m used to them going down after a couple of days. That’s really my only concern. I’m happy to wait longer just never sure when starting a new tank.
That’s what I meant sorry!
Wouldn’t worry too much about the level. If it stays the same it basically just means that or your colony is not big enough or your test kit is faulty. Logical reasoning would want you to see a gradual decrease as nitrosomonas are growing. However I have noticed starting multiple tanks that most of the time the ammonia looks stalled and then suddenly in one day drops completely to zero. Maybe because of an exponential growth? Anyway no tank is the same, but if you are sure your test kit is fine I would leave it as it is :)
If you're using SeaChem Prime I would hold off on adding any more. It doesn't actually bind or reduce ammonia like the label claims, and I think it might be interfering with your ammonia testing. I would just let this continue to cycle naturally, a fish-less cycle can often take several weeks.
I will definitely wait a bit more. I am testing every day. I never got around to getting another testing kit (really need to do that). I’ll give it another week for now.
Ah I used it to jumpstart the cycle as it claims to do. I usually don’t use it but had was unable to get my hands on that turbo start I usually have. It does state to use for 7 days but that’s about to be up and I still don’t feel comfortable adding anything to this tank. I’ll give a look at the forum. Thanks!
Hmmmmm, are you sure you're not confusing SeaChem Prime with SeaChem Stability, which I see in your pic above? Stability is for cycling new tanks, it provides the beneficial bacteria you need. Prime is a dechlorinator for tap water, and "claims" to reduce ammonia.
I am I am sorry I used stability to jump start my tank with dr Tim’s ammonia. So sorry it’s one of those days my brain doesn’t want to work
LOL! No worries, it happens!!
That is what I usually use but big box stores never carry it and my LFs is 40 min from my place..so I had to settle. I will finish out the instructions but if I don’t see a change I’ll pick some of this up whenever I’m at my LFS. I need more corals for my other tank anywaysI would just leave it. At most, maybe add more bacteria. I love Fritz turbostart 900.
I expect "Stability" is a heterotrophic bacterial mix, hence not true nitrifiers. They will require a carbon source, not just ammonia. A pinch of fish food here and there should do the trick.
You might be right since it does state fish can be added anytime. I have some frozen fish food I can try to add.
This is spot on advice, and why I now believe that you absolutely *can* overdose these bottled bacteria products. As Garf mentions, they have a type of bacteria that can reduce ammonia, but they are not really the bacteria we want long-term. Adding more bottled bacteria products at this time allows the heterotrophic bacteria out compete the good nitrifying bacteria we want to grow, leading to a longer than necessary cycle, and a potentially imbalance microbiome. I believe best practice would be to just let it do its thing, the good bacteria will grow. Typically, a fish-less cycle takes about 3 weeks, give or take.
It does I’m very scared to do a fish-in cycle (I’ve cried over a $2 goldfish before smh) and I am not even sure if it’s safe at this stage to try to add a fish. I know I’d probably have to do water changed every few days correct? Just to reduce ammonia?
I don't care for a fish-in cycle myself, even when using something like the Fritz TurboStart mentioned above (which is know to be a very fast-acting product). I would just give this a few more days to a week or so and with the ammonia. When your ammonia goes to nearly zero or less, you're in good shape to start slowly adding hardy livestock. There's no need to wait for the nitrite to go to zero, nitrite is non-toxic in marine aquaria (unlike in freshwater)
