How to Use API Quick Start for Fishless Cycle
How to Use API Quick Start for Fishless Cycle. To does this product use 10 mL for every 10 gallons of aquarium water. You will need to add a source of ammonia to feed the spores of nitrifying bacteria. It does not say that in the directions but you need to feed those spores ammonia. Some people state that they continuously does this every couple days but the directions also does not state that you have to do that.
If you were going to be using small fish as your source of ammonia make sure to not overstock and use small size fish. Don’t forget that you can also use a small pinch of aquarium fish food to be that source of ammonia as well. That way we’re not hurting any fish if there’s ammonia burn in the water.
Added fish tank bantering:
Was causes a crashed cycle? Is that even what is going on? I have no ammonia, high nitrites, and 10-20ppm nitrates. I’ve done several water changes, rinsed out filter to get rid of waste (used the dirty tank water to rinse filter media), dosed with good bacteria several times and nothing brings down the nitrites over time. Right after the water changes I’ll get the nitrites down to .25-.5 ish and then the next day they are back at the top of the scale. My ph also spiked. I was hovering around 6.8 and then yesterday was at 7.6. What should I do? I have fish in, but they were added after the cycle. 36gal tank with 2 mollies, 4 endlers, 2otos, 1 clown pleco, 2 rams, 5 cory cats.
Cleaning the tank too well can crash a cycle, adding too many fish to your tank at 1 time can also crash your cycle those are the top 2 that I know.
This. Also power cuts. Anything basically that will kill the bacterial colonies in your filter will crash a cycle. It will take a while to restablise (potentially several weeks).
But this chart has been debunked as made up by someone random. It does not come from API or seachem and for anyone who understands the nitrogen cycle they know it’s confusing for a newbie. So perhaps just refrain from giving people advice at least on cycling and cycle crashes.
Do a 20-40% water change to reduce your nitrates. I let the water tests guide my water changes. Nitrates will build in your tank and then you do a water change. Live plants will help eat some nitrates, but water changes to control them will likely still be needed.
Your tests indicate a shortage of nitrobacter for the current bio load. Rinsing out the filters in this case is the last thing you want to do, even in tank water, unless your flow is severely obstructed. Things to look for: Do you have enough media surface to support your bio load. Is there enough oxygen in the tank (you can never have too much). Bacteria need oxygen and flow rate to grow and thrive. You have good nitrosomanas because the ammonia is gone, but the nitrobacter grows at a slower rate thus nitrite buildup. Increase media surface if you can, increase oxygen, increase flow rate, and do frequent water changes until it grows back.
Do not vacuum the substrate unless you see ammonia. Substrate houses lots of bacteria. If you can, increase the temperature a bit. Bacteria grow faster in warm water. Hope that helps.On your PH, that is low for most freshwater fish, not sure what you have in your tank. Bacteria need as high a PH as your fish can take. If your ph is fluctuating your target range check your kh which buffers your PH and keeps it stable.
Yes, thank you for your detailed response! Very helpful. I’m going through the same thing. I think I’ve done multiple things incorrectly. I added several new fish at one time, right after cleaning my tank well and doing a water change as well as adding new decorations to the tank. I’m afraid my fish will die over the next week. I had cleaned the filters and everything… Not sure what the best course of action to take now so that my fish don’t die?
But If you cleaned all your media with tap water you have damaged your bacteria population. If you did it in tank water, it’ll come back. In the meantime frequent testing and water changes along with adding nitrobacteria will help greatly. You can’t add too much nitrifying bacteria. (as an aside, I have never had good luck with adding that stuff but others swear by it and it can’t hurt.)
Cleaning a filter is almost a misnomer. You don’t clean a filter every month, you check a filter every month. I have a canister filter but works on HOB as well. take the media out and rinse out the box. Inspect media. Only squeeze it out in tank water if it is really obstructed. The brown stuff is to be saved as much as possible.
But you may have parts of dead fish, visible rotten food, etc. In that case I give it a quick squeeze in the tank water that was left in your filter, or grab a quart or so from your tank to do it. Advice that says clean your filter every month and change your media is usually bad advice. CHECK your filter and rinse out the box every month.
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