Cycle Log

[Tathar]

Hey.

Ok, so I'm starting this as a proper log. I brought my 28L tank up to 4ppm of Ammonia. All the values in my tapwater are 0ppm. The pH of my tapwater is 7.6. From what I understand I just keep testing ammonia til it begins to drop, and test for nitrites when it does? And then just raise the ammonia back to about 4ppm to get everything going?

So to sum it all up

Tap water values:
Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm
pH- 7.6

Tank values:
Ammonia- 4ppm
Nitrite- havent tested.
Nitrate- havent tested.
pH- havent tested.

I don't need to test any of the others yet, do I?

Thanks.

 

[Skins]

Hey.

Ok, so I'm starting this as a proper log. I brought my 28L tank up to 4ppm of Ammonia. All the values in my tapwater are 0ppm. The pH of my tapwater is 7.6. From what I understand I just keep testing ammonia til it begins to drop, and test for nitrites when it does? And then just raise the ammonia back to about 4ppm to get everything going?

So to sum it all up

Tap water values:
Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm
pH- 7.6

Tank values:
Ammonia- 4ppm
Nitrite- havent tested.
Nitrate- havent tested.
pH- havent tested.

I don't need to test any of the others yet, do I?

Thanks.

Thats right wait for ammonia to drop then test for nitrites. Now and again test your pH just to make sure its holding up.

Skins.

 

[Tathar]

Ammonia still 4.0 today. Just thought I'd post today to keep track.

 

[waterdrop]

 

[Skins]

 

[Tathar]

Ok, so I've been testing ammonia daily, except for yesterday. I tested again this morning and it had dropped to 1.0ppm. The Nitrite had also risen, to about 1.0ppm.

Date Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate
20-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
21-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
22-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
23-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
24-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
26-Nov 1.0ppm 1.0ppm n/a

Does this seem right? Now I just add more Ammonia to boost it back up, correct?

 

[Aqua Tom]

Yes but not to much, now you have bacteria eating the ammonia you only want to be adding 2-3ppm ammonia.

 

[Skins]

Ok, so I've been testing ammonia daily, except for yesterday. I tested again this morning and it had dropped to 1.0ppm. The Nitrite had also risen, to about 1.0ppm.

Date Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate
20-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
21-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
22-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
23-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
24-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
26-Nov 1.0ppm 1.0ppm n/a

Does this seem right? Now I just add more Ammonia to boost it back up, correct?

The process has started

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ok, so I've been testing ammonia daily, except for yesterday. I tested again this morning and it had dropped to 1.0ppm. The Nitrite had also risen, to about 1.0ppm.

Date Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate
20-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
21-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
22-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
23-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
24-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
26-Nov 1.0ppm 1.0ppm n/a

Does this seem right? Now I just add more Ammonia to boost it back up, correct?

The process has started

+1

 

[SensesFail]

Ok, so I've been testing ammonia daily, except for yesterday. I tested again this morning and it had dropped to 1.0ppm. The Nitrite had also risen, to about 1.0ppm.

Date Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate
20-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
21-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
22-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
23-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
24-Nov 4.0ppm n/a n/a
26-Nov 1.0ppm 1.0ppm n/a

Does this seem right? Now I just add more Ammonia to boost it back up, correct?

The process has started

Sure has you lucky guy!! Been doing mine for 4 months still waiting. Have just added mature media so let's see now u need to decide on your fish. although waiting till it's cycled and testing the water will give you a good idea as to what water conditions you have to play with

 

[Skins]

Keep dosing up to 4ppm when your ammonia level gets below 1ppm, when your nitrite spikes i would then dose to 2-3ppm, this will slow the build up of nitrogen in your water.
Skins

 

[Tathar]

Ok, so I should add 2ppm worth of Ammonia now, then retest everything again tomorrow?

 

[Tathar]

I've added 3ppm of ammonia last night. So now the ammonia is 8.0ppm. Looks like I might of gotten my measurements wrong. The Nitrite is at 0.25ppm. The water is getting cloudy. Should I do a water change, or just leave it?

 

[Aqua Tom]

8ppm ammonia is very high, you need to aim for 2-3ppm. Cloudy water is probably a bacterial bloom & nothing to worry about.

 

[Tathar]

8ppm ammonia is very high, you need to aim for 2-3ppm. Cloudy water is probably a bacterial bloom & nothing to worry about.

Thats what I thought. oh well. I'll try to get it right next time. I guess I'll be waiting a little longer for it to come down this time. At least there is Nitrite present though, so that is a little promising.