Coming Towards The End Of My Cycle..

[The Taffy Apple]

Good afternoon all, i've been cycling my tank now for over a week (iknow this may sound a short period, but due to inexperience my tank has been running for a couple of months and for the previous 2/3 weeks i've been adding fish flakes daily)... i've been adding the correct dose of Ammonia daily and testing on a regular basis..

The filter is comfortably processing 4ppm of ammonia back to 0 within 12 hours, yet it is taking 18 to get my NitrIte back down to 0.

What stage of the process would you say that i am at?

Any replies highly appreicated.
Terry.

 

[Uriel]

Stage 3. Keep dosing 4-5ppm every 24 hours until the filter is able to process both ammonia and nitrite down to 0 in 12 hours. Sustain this level for a week and you have a cycled tank. You might need to do occasional water changes to keep the ph and nitrates in check. If the PH drops to low or the nitrates get to high it can stall the process.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Stage 3. Keep dosing 4-5ppm every 24 hours until the filter is able to process both ammonia and nitrite down to 0 in 12 hours. Sustain this level for a week and you have a cycled tank. You might need to do occasional water changes to keep the ph and nitrates in check. If the PH drops to low or the nitrates get to high it can stall the process.

Many thanks for your quick response Uriel....

I am aiming to do a water change tomorrow afternoon after tonights night shift.

Appreciated, terry.

 

[Uriel]

Be sure to dechlorinate the water. Although i'm sure you would have. Because the chlorine/Chloramine will kill the bacteria in your filter if it comes in contact.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Be sure to dechlorinate the water. Although i'm sure you would have. Because the chlorine/Chloramine will kill the bacteria in your filter if it comes in contact.

Indeed... i have a done a few water changes in the past, and by contacting my water services provider i know what they put in my tap water.

PH seems to be a problem... i had to add Bicarb Of Soda last week to bring it back upto 7.6 as it had dropped to 6.4 almost overnight, i am aware that this, also, can stall my cycle, so i shall be keeping a close eye on it.

Again, many thanks.
Terry.