Am I Correct?

[Joshwainwright]

Is this what I should do?

1. Add ammonia to raise level to 4 - 5 ppm. http/www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm
2. Test ammonia level daily.
3. When ammonia level drops to 1 ppm, test for nitrite.
4. When ammonia level drops to 0 ppm, raise back up to 4 - 5 ppm.
5. Test nitrite level daily. (it should increase)
6. Continue raising ammonia levels to 4 - 5 ppm when they drop to 0 ppm.
8. When nitrite levels start to drop, test nitrate level. (it should increase)
9. When nitrite reaches 0 ppm, stop adding ammonia.
10. Make sure nitrate levels are up.
11. Do a 75% to 90% water change.
12. Check everything.
13. Get fish.

 

[kbekll]

never stop adding ammnia as that is what is feeding the bacteria only stop the day you put fish in and it reads 0ppm for all

 

[Joshwainwright]

Better?

1. Add ammonia to raise level to 4 - 5 ppm. http/www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm
2. Test ammonia level daily.
3. When ammonia level drops to 1 ppm, test for nitrite.
4. When ammonia level drops to 0 ppm, raise back up to 4 - 5 ppm.
5. Test nitrite level daily. (it should increase)
6. Continue raising ammonia levels to 4 - 5 ppm when they drop to 0 ppm.
8. When nitrite levels start to drop, test nitrate level. (it should increase)
9. When nitrite reaches 0 ppm, make sure nitrate levels are up.
10. Make sure nitrate levels are up.
11. Do a 75% to 90% water change.
12. Check everything.
13. Get fish.
14. Stop raising ammonia level.

 

[kbod]

im cycling 200litre tank at moment the way as described by 'Joshwainwright' and its cycling great this way ,hope this helps

 

[kbekll]

the night befor you get your fish put the final ammount of ammonia in then just befor you get the fish make sure all levels are at 0ppm other than nitrate

just befor you walk out the door do the water change then fill back up (should just about be up tp temp) then when you get back in aclimatise the fish then you should be sorted

 

[Colin_T]

If you are doing a fishless cycle then that is fine. However, if you have fish in the tank, you don't want to add any ammonia because it will kill the fish. If you have fish in the tank then just feed them once a day and do regular water changes. the fish food and waste will provide the ammonia to get the filter going.

 

[Joshwainwright]

so with fish I just need to regularly change the water?

 

[Colin_T]

so with fish I just need to regularly change the water?

yep
just keep the feeding down so the ammonia levels don't go too high. And do water changes to keep the ammonia levels low. You want to keep the ammonia level below 1ppm so if it goes above that, then do a 50-75% water change to dilute the ammonia level.
Normally a daily 50% water change is sufficient to keep the ammonia levels below 1ppm.

 

[Joshwainwright]

ok so:

1. do a 50% water change daily to keep ammonia < 1 ppm.
2. Test ammonia level daily.
3. When nitrite levels start to drop, test nitrate level. (it should increase)
4. When nitrite and ammonia levels reach 0 ppm, make sure nitrate levels are up.
5. Check everything.

 

[Bobtastic]

With the Fish-in cycle you need to keep both the Ammonia and Nitrite levels low as they are toxic to the fishies. You don't really need to worry about teh Nitrate levels as you'll be changing the water that often that the levels shouldn't get high enough to cause.

Regular all stats water test and regular water changes are the order of the day with the Fish0in cycle. Once you're fully cycled you will then just fall into your regular maintenance of water changes to keep the Nitrates low. Tho this will probably take longer to get to than the Fishless cycle as the levels of Ammonia and Nitrites are lower.

 

[Colin_T]

ok so:

1. do a 50% water change daily to keep ammonia < 1 ppm.
2. Test ammonia level daily.
3. When nitrite levels start to drop, test nitrate level. (it should increase)
4. When nitrite and ammonia levels reach 0 ppm, make sure nitrate levels are up.
5. Check everything.

pretty much but nitrate test kits will read nitrite as nitrate. This means if you test the nitrate while you still have nitrite, you will get a false reading. Wait until the nitrite goes up and comes down. When it has come down to 0ppm, then start checking for nitrate.
Regular water changes will keep the nitrate level low.

 

[Joshwainwright]

My brain hurts lol, but still I think I'm taking enough in for a 14 year old.

Right, im going to get the testing kit tomorrow and i will contact you with the results, then ill not get muddled up.

How will i know that nitrite has been up if i cant test for it?

 

[Colin_T]

the ammonia level will go up and after a couple of weeks it should have come down to 0. Then the nitrite reading will go up and a couple of weeks later that should be 0 too. Then you should start getting a nitrate reading.
When you get a nitrate reading but have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, the tank should have finished cycling.
Check your tap water supply as some times it has nitrate in and this will cause your tank to have a bit of nitrate before the tank has cycled.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Lol, it would be so much easier if the tank could just cycle itself with some cheap fish.

I'm gonna get some rest now, I will contact you tomorrow when i do the tests.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Just done a test on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, really shocked.

Ammonia = 0.50 ppm
Nitrite = 0.00 ppm
Nitrate = 5.00 ppm

I'm confused.