- Joined
- Jul 9, 2007
- Messages
- 4,481
- Reaction score
- 4
Ok. Sticking to what you are trying to accomplish, forget nitrite and nitrate for now and concentrate on ammonia.
Dose your tank with ammonia up to about 5ppm. Monitor how long it takes to get to 0. Once at 0, add more to take it back up to 5ppm. It should come down to 0 quicker every time than the previous time.
Once it is returning to 0 in about 12hrs, the nitrosomonas bacteria are ready and you need to start monitoring nitrite.
The nitrite will spike. Keep adding ammonia every time the ammonia gets to 0, and continue to do this until nitrite comes back to 0. Hey presto, you are 'cycled'.
Only at this point should you get fish. Hope this helps.
If you are unsure, read the fishless cycling thread. Theres a link in my signature.
Dose your tank with ammonia up to about 5ppm. Monitor how long it takes to get to 0. Once at 0, add more to take it back up to 5ppm. It should come down to 0 quicker every time than the previous time.
Once it is returning to 0 in about 12hrs, the nitrosomonas bacteria are ready and you need to start monitoring nitrite.
The nitrite will spike. Keep adding ammonia every time the ammonia gets to 0, and continue to do this until nitrite comes back to 0. Hey presto, you are 'cycled'.
Only at this point should you get fish. Hope this helps.
If you are unsure, read the fishless cycling thread. Theres a link in my signature.
