Struggling to get cycle going

[Saralouise2775]

I am struggling to cycle my tank. Nothing seems to be happening. It’s a 90 l tank with this filter

I have a Java fern, Anubis and 2 moss balls in it and started off adding fish food them swapped to dr Tim also Adding bottled bacteria.

Started to get some nitrate at one point then nothing, I changed some water but that haven’t helped. Feel like I failed before I started. I’m to nervous to add goop.any advice appreciated.

[fr499y]

Don’t change water during the cycle, only top up if evaporated.

Dose ammonia to 4ppm and keep an eye on it, when it drop to 0ppm top back up to 2 and then start testing for nitrites ( not nitrate ) once you get nitrites showing, test daily and top ammonia up once it hits 0ppm, and as soon as you get ammonia and nitrite to 0ppm over night, the cycle is done. Do a large water change to remove any excess nitrates before stocking.

For more details, take a look at the cycling guide on here

[SPACKlick]

I might be missing something but you said you had Nitrate and it went away, but you also have a reasonable number of plants. Your plants could be consuming your nitrate almost entirely if they're growing well.

How are Ammonia and Nitrite levels doing?

[black ghost]

What readings have you had for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

[Saralouise2775]

Only ammonia indicated. I was wondering about taking the plants out actually. That's why I listed them in my post.
The java fern looks a bit raggy with some black specks in leaves but leaves in tack and green Anubis looks very healthy. I haven't given plants anything extra to aid them

[SPACKlick]

When you say "only ammonia indicated" what readings have you had for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate whilst cycling? Without actual numbers and dates it's pretty hard to give advice because we don't know what's happened.

[plankton]

The Dr.Tim's ammonia chloride takes a while to show nitrite (I think @Sixo is using it currently as well), so don't panic.
When the ammonia drops below 2ppm add more anyway to top up as per the directions.

[Sixo]

The Dr.Tim's ammonia chloride takes a while to show nitrite (I think @Sixo is using it currently as well), so don't panic.
When the ammonia drops below 2ppm add more anyway to top up as per the directions.

Yeah nitrites definitely slower to get to work mine took a good few days to get a reading, or an obvious one anyway. There’s probably a lot of factors involved like tank surface area/plants, Ammonia dosage and how much bacteria added in proportion to tank volume etc.

Dr. Tim’s website has a step-by-step video to fishless cycling aswell as troubleshooting video for common issues to give you a steer.

https://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resource ... -and-only/