Cycle crash already?

[Wildwhimsy]

36gallon bowfront, fluval 407, inline co2, weekaqua p600 for lighting. Substrate is garden soil capped with blasting sand. I used ADA bacteria during cycling.

So this was my first time doing a dark start and it took about 6 weeks, when it seemed done it was testing 0ammonia 0 nitrites and 20ppm nitrate. Did a water change and planted. That was 4/5 days ago. Now I’m testing .25-1ppm ammonia and 0 nitrites and nitrates. What has happened? I added some stability this morning but I’m confused and wondering if I just wait because it needs to re cycle again?

 

[Scaper26]

View attachment 18116

36gallon bowfront, fluval 407, inline co2, weekaqua p600 for lighting. Substrate is garden soil capped with blasting sand. I used ADA bacteria during cycling.

So this was my first time doing a dark start and it took about 6 weeks, when it seemed done it was testing 0ammonia 0 nitrites and 20ppm nitrate. Did a water change and planted. That was 4/5 days ago. Now I’m testing .25-1ppm ammonia and 0 nitrites and nitrates. What has happened? I added some stability this morning but I’m confused and wondering if I just wait because it needs to re cycle again?

Planting caused ammonia to start leaching again because you broke the cap. It'll be fine, your cycle will catch up again.

 

[Wildwhimsy]

Planting caused ammonia to start leaching again because you broke the cap. It'll be fine, your cycle will catch up again.

Why would that cause no nitrates though? Sorry if the answer is obvious- I’m still learning.

 

[Scaper26]

Why would that cause no nitrates though? Sorry if the answer is obvious- I’m still learning.

Honestly, no clue. Biological systems fluctuate as microbial populations grow/outgrow each other until they reach an equilibrium. Allow it a few months and it'll settle on its own.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

With that much plant mass, your plants will quickly eat up that ammonia once they get established!

I'd do a 50% water change and keep letting it do it's thing. Looks great, by the way!