Hey guys, new here and looking to get some oscars eventually but not for this tank however I turn to you for help.

I set up a 10 gallon tank with everything needed, filter, heater, lid etc...i used CLEAR ammonia to get the ammonia level up to around 4.0 and for the last 4 days its went down to in between 2.0 and 4.0...as far as the colors go on the liquid ammonia test...however each day i've tested for nitrites I get nothing. Any hints or am I just being impatient?

Thanks!!

-Tim

welcome to the community

I have got to be honest, I have never done a fishless cycle. One of our other members could probably give you the benefit of their advice. However, have a look at this link, I found it a while ago and thought it would be very helpful for people like yourself. It is a fishless cycle diary which should give you an indication of how quickly things work and how many drops you should be adding. I hope it is of some help

www.oscarfishlover.com/helpful-articles/...aquarium/cycle-diary

thanks for the welcome as well as the possible help however!!! I actually have been using that diary which is why I am curious and frustrated because It's not turning out to be anywhere near as quick. For some reason my ammonia just sits in the tank and won't convert into nitrites and I have no idea why. I am pretty sure I didn't add too much ammonia as i've read not to do but even then it still doesnt say it wont produce nitrites because of that.

I have even turned the heater on to raise the temp to around 84 degrees to help speed up the process but nothing. I also have a smaller tank with 2 goldfish in it that somehow are still alive because the same thing is happening. The ammonia is going up however the nitrates aren't forming but I read that it could be a very lengthy process using fish for the source of ammonia.

SO CONFUSED!!!

anyone?!?!?

I have no clue about fishless cycling however if you have a tank with goldfish in you can use them to cycle one tank and then the other!!!!!

Just to check, do you have a filter running on the tank?

I know this thread is a bit dated but from what I have read, a tank cycling fishless, without seeding, in 10 days, is FAR from the norm.

I to am not the best person to ask, but I would have thought a lot longer than 4 days given it takes 6 wks to fully cycle a tank. if you where producing nitrates after 4 days your tank would cycle in 2 wks.

put a couple of goldfish in the tank. have plenty of filtration to collect beneficial bacteria. Do consistant frequent water changes. You will have it licked in a week or two.

i normally do not recommend fishless cycling the tank... but i had tried
the process once... and what i use is the fertilizer for my garden...
ammonium nitrate... the tank shows nitrate in 6 days.....