1St Time 0Ppm - Next Step ?

[anon02]

If the nitrate levels hit in excess of 100 ppm would it be a good idea to do a partial wc to keep it in check or do I just let it ride till I get steady double zeros ?

 

[anon02]

24 hour test
ammonia = 0
nitrite = < O.3
nitrate = between 12.5 and 25
added 5ppm ammonia

 

[anon02]

12 hour test
Ammonia = 1.5ppm
Nitrite = 0.8ppm
Nitrate = 25ppm
With the slight setback in the figures (compared to yesterdays 12 hour test) I checked the pH @ 6.8 (7.0 at the tap)

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, you're looking like third stage. The pH drop is still further confirmation. Partial water changes have no meaning in fishless cycling, better to do them down to the gravel when you do bother to do them. They should be over-done but in your case, weekend full water changes will kill two birds with one stone in that nitrogen compounds will be reduced and pH will be refreshed upward.. all a good thing in the third phase. WD

 

[anon02]

24 hour test
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = <0.3ppm
Nitrate = 50ppm
Added 5ppm ammonia

 

[waterdrop]

Yup, continues to look very 3rd stage-ish...

 

[anon02]

12 hour test
Ammonia = 0.25 / 1.5ppm
Nitrite = 0.8ppm
Nitrate = 50ppm

I would have expected more nitrate (dont these N - bacs work the night shift lol)

 

[waterdrop]

night shift, ha! These bacteria are like your kids.. do you expect them to go about things in a methodical way lol

 

[anon02]

24 hour test

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = <0.3ppm
Nitrate = 25ppm

Added 5ppm ammonia

 

[anon02]

12 hour test
Ammonia = 0.25 / 1.5ppm
Nitrite = 0.8ppm
Nitrate = 50ppm

So exactly the same as yesterdays 12 hour test figures

 

[waterdrop]

And your pH is holding up I presume?

 

[anon02]

And your pH is holding up I presume?

pH is 6.6 / 6.8
Do I need to buffer ?
I do have soft water @ 3.6

 

[waterdrop]

Oh yeah, you're clearly almost stalled out. I'd go find some pure baking soda (not baking powder as it might have other ingredients in some cases) (verify it says Sodium Bicarbonate as the ingredient on your box) and plan to do a massive water change down to the gravel, then refill using conditioner and rough temperature matching and then recharge your 5ppm ammonia and dose the bicarb at 1.5 teaspoons per 50L (whatever that works out to be) and then test your KH and pH over the next few days and see if its put you up toward (or in) the pH sweet spot of 8.0 to 8.4 or so. All these actions should be good for your 3rd stage situation and may just jolt you right on to the end and the qualifying week.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[anon02]

Did a down to gravel wc and refilled with temp matched conditioned water, added 5ppm ammonia and 1.5 tsp bicarb
pH after 1 hour 7.4

 

[anon02]

12 hour test
Ammonia = 1.5
Nitrite = 0.8
Nitrate = 12.5
pH 7.4
Added tsp bicarb