Tank not cycling!

[CtHM]

Yeah, and I'm pretty sure I know why, I'm just not sure what to do about it. I'm using the ammonia style to cycle. My only problem is, I don't exactly have a source of bacteria that I can put in this tank to cycle it. The SG in the tank I'm cycling is about 1.008-1.010, and all my other tanks are pure freshwater or saltwater. I have added substrate and fake plants from my other tank, but I know bacteria doesn't live well when put in one salinity then another.

My ammonia Is sticking around at 5ppm, Nitrites are not changing from .25ppm, Nitrates are at 5ppm and PH is 8.2

Should I just keep trying to add bacteria from my freshwater tanks, or wait, or go out and buy a bag of Biospira?

D: I'm at a loss!

[Jase]

why don't you lower the sg to around 1.002, add bacteria, and then bring it back up?

[Pufferpunk]

Are you cycling for an upgrade or a new fish? What SG are the fish you want to add to that tank in now at?

[Nick]

Acclimate your bacteria on an old grungy cartridge to the new SG over several hours in a tub of water. Sure a lot will die, but even if 2% live, this is a fishless cycle, so it needed a few days to catch up is fine.

[CtHM]

yes. It's a 20gal that I'm cycling for F8's and some bbg's. When they come, I will be getting them in a SG of 1.008-1.010. I didn't start out with a low SG because i was SUPPOSED to be getting the fish w/i two weeks, maybe three.

[Agnate]

What type of filter are you using? I had a major problem when I was starting my first brackish tank. My filter contained Zeolite, which detoxifies ammonia (and thus ruining the cycling process), and the salt in the water was recharging the Zeolite, so it was constantly preventing a good cycle.

Is it possible that one of your filters has this type of media in it? Might be worth checking.

[CtHM]

I highly doubt it. I'm just using whisper filters/filter carbon. thats about it.