2 Weeks Into Cycle, Just A Quick Question?

[Gazpug]

Hello all,

I am in the proces of cycling my 295 L fish tank. I know this process can take weeks. I am just making sure things are going ok with the readings.

A couple of days ago i took a reading and my ammonia was a 0ppm and i have already had a NitrIte spike and that is slowly starting to be processed. I know i am waiting for the bacteria to start reducing this.

The quiestion i am asking is, i have done a test this evening and the ammonia (after 24Hrs) of adding one full papette of ammonia was .25 ppm. and my nitrIte is 2ppm. I am hoping that this has happened because i have had about 3 plants die (young ones) over the last week. Is this normal?

The funny thing is i have got 2 new guests in the tank. Snails. they seem to be happy though. At least i have somthing to look at lol. I am sitting on my hands and waiting for that nirIte to drop.

Regards

Gaz

 

[rdd1952]

What is the highest your nitrite has been? What is your nitrate reading? How high was the ammonia after adding the pipette? It's very dooubtful your plants had any effect. If they died in just 2 weeks, most likely they weren't aquatic plants. As a general rule, plants with varigated leaves aren't suitable for aquariums.

 

[Gazpug]

What is the highest your nitrite has been? What is your nitrate reading? How high was the ammonia after adding the pipette? It's very dooubtful your plants had any effect. If they died in just 2 weeks, most likely they weren't aquatic plants. As a general rule, plants with varigated leaves aren't suitable for aquariums.

The nitrIte Spiked at 5ppm and the ammonia spiked at 8ppm. they have gradually been coming down appart from the ther day when the ammonia just appeard to .25 from zero. once i had the spike which was adding 2ppm every day of ammonia, i halfed the dosage. now i am just waiting for them to drop to zero. it might have been a one off i hope this is the case.

I am doing the add daily meathod. how long is this roughly taking people? Just a ball park figure will do. i have just started my 3rd week today.

regards

gaz

 

[rdd1952]

What is your nitrate reading? And is the 2 ppm of ammonia back to 0 on both ammonia and nitrite in less than a day?

 

[Gazpug]

What is your nitrate reading? And is the 2 ppm of ammonia back to 0 on both ammonia and nitrite in less than a day?

Right i have conducted an api liquid test 19 hrs after adding my ammonia. my results are as follows

Ammonia 0ppm
NitrIte 5ppm
Nitrate 5ppm

There must be little bacteria to process the nitrite. It has been at 5ppm for quite a few days now.

I turned up my tank temp last night to 29 Deg C to help with bacteria productin so fingers crossed this will speed things up.
Any ideas roughly how long from here

 

[rdd1952]

Actually, your nitrite is off the chart I assume since 5ppm is the highest level on the chart. If the nitrate isn't rising, then little or no nitrite is being processed. As far as tep is concerned, you really need it at 31 to 34 degrees. 29 is way too low for cycling. The higher the better.

 

[Gazpug]

Actually, your nitrite is off the chart I assume since 5ppm is the highest level on the chart. If the nitrate isn't rising, then little or no nitrite is being processed. As far as tep is concerned, you really need it at 31 to 34 degrees. 29 is way too low for cycling. The higher the better.

Cool, i will turn up my heater now. How long roughly is this going to take fromhere i know it is impossible to be sure but a rough indication would be appriciated.

Reards and thanks

Gaz

 

[rdd1952]

If things go normally, you are probably 10 to 14 days away but as you mentioned, it's hard to say for sure.

 

[Gazpug]

If things go normally, you are probably 10 to 14 days away but as you mentioned, it's hard to say for sure.

Thank you very much. I cant wait.

Regards Gaz