First stage of cycle is happening (ammonia)

[Ash92]

After a week of cycling and 48 hours ago I added food to my tank, it's now showing my ammonia at 0, 4 ppm on my QT tank and my main tank is at 0, 2 ppm how long till this goes and nitrite starts to come?

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Ash, generally a cycle takes about six weeks. What did you start the cycle with a week ago? Pure ammonia? Sounds like you filled the tank a week ago, added nothing to the tank until you added food which cause the ammonia to register on your test. If true the your cycle started when you added food to the tank. Many here use pure ammonia (from the hardware store and without surfactants) to start the cycle. It is a lot cleaner then adding food plus you can control the amount of ammonia added to the tank. This will give you an idea http://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfish...s-cycle.19627/.
Pat

[bluelagoon]

It'll take 4-6 weeks for a tank to cycle.You didn't mention what you started cycling with a week ago?If nothing the tank didn't start until the food started to break down.

[bluelagoon]

I guess Pat answered before I hit post.

[Ash92]

This is what I've bin using from the day I started it up 14861296710891306321188.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Ash, is that a bacteria culture?
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

OK, found it https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterlife-B.../dp/B00CCBRIIM and yes, it is a bacteria culture intended to jump start the cycle of a tank. But you still need to feed the bacteria with something that produces ammonia.
Pat

[Ash92]

OK, found it https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterlife-B.../dp/B00CCBRIIM and yes, it is a bacteria culture intended to jump start the cycle of a tank. But you still need to feed the bacteria with something that produces ammonia.
Pat

I've literally tried every were for the ammonia but can't find it were I live and for feeding the bacteria with ammonia that's why I added food to the tank

[Second Hand Pat]

Adding food to the tank should do that Ash but you need to continually feed the bacteria. Waiting a week most likely resulted in any bacteria dying. Are you continuing to add this product. Please note that I do not know if this product actually works. What food did you add?
Pat

[Ash92]

Adding food to the tank should do that Ash but you need to continually feed the bacteria. Waiting a week most likely resulted in any bacteria dying. Are you continuing to add this product. Please note that I do not know if this product actually works. What food did you add?
Pat

It only says add for the first week of new tank so I done the last dose this morning and I've only added the food that one time 48 hours ago it's was hikiri pellets for Cichlids left over from my oscar

[Second Hand Pat]

There are no fish in the tank right. Does the product assume the tank has fish?
Pat

[Ash92]

There are no fish in the tank right. Does the product assume the tank has fish?
Pat

No fish in the tank mate and no I don't think the product assumes the tank has fish, not sure

[Second Hand Pat]

Does the product recommend feeding the bacteria colony?
Pat

[Ash92]

Does the product recommend feeding the bacteria colony?
Pat

It don't say anything about that but it says... actively reduces ammonia, (bacterlife will not generate additional ammonia, a problem that may occur with other bacteria cultures ) (inhabits new tank syndrome)

[DJW]

Ash, were you able to find that ammonia product I linked to in your other post? That stuff looks like its just the ticket if you can get some.