Ammonia Issue

[NanotankBank]

So I had a tank cycled completely reading no ammonia no nitrites and little to no nitrates. I went to check the water one more time and nitrites and nitrates are still 0 but ammonia is reading at about .25ppm. No animals have been placed in the aquarium, so I’m not sure what could’ve caused the spike. I would’ve ran it again but I’m in a rush. Any ideas what could cause it? 

[Katherine]

Do you have plants in there? Or did you ghost feed to produce the initial ammonia?

[NanotankBank]

On 8/7/2022 at 2:53 PM, Katherine said:

Do you have plants in there? Or did you ghost feed to produce the initial ammonia?

There are a bunch of plants, I try to take out the dead leaves ASAP. And I did ghost feed to start the cycle a while ago

[Katherine]

It's possible you've still got plant matter and/or food decaying then.

Edited August 7, 2022 by Katherine

[NanotankBank]

On 8/7/2022 at 3:09 PM, Katherine said:

It's possible you've still got plant matter and/or food decaying then.

Interesting. So what would be the solution? Water changes? Is 25ppm too high to add any fish, I was planning on doing that tomorrow 🫠

[Flumpweesel]

Keep an eye on it your tank might just need a bit of time to convert it, if it keep rising look for a cause if you have been using root tabs make sure they are all still where you put them.

If it's the same or dropping tomorrow it's just your tank doing something.

Cycling is not a once and done thing young cycles are fragile

[Katherine]

I would for sure test again before putting fish in tomorrow. Don't water change for .25 with no fish, let the bacteria have some more time to eat it.

[Patrick_G]

I agree with the answers above. The cycle might have stalled a bit, but it’ll get going again.      It’s takes lots of patience. 
 

[Brandon p]

I think it’s the bacteria hing back once you stiopped ghost feeding the bats d other microbes don’t have anything to keep eating and die. This breaks the cycle.