Cycling 200l Tank Question

[Bugsvile]

Ok so my ammonia levels are disapearing fast everyday, the Nitrite levels are off the chart at the moment. Looking to the future i would like to know when the time comes to do a large water change, should i just use cold water from the tap, or should i heat the water up before adding it to the tank?

I'm just worried the shock of cold water could somehow kill off the bacteria i have spent so long cultivating.

 

[OldMan47]

Tap water, except in the dead of winter, is not cold enough to really harm the bacteria, although it might slow their growth for a few hours until the temperature recovers.

 

[doresy]

Totally agree with OldMan.

Your fishless cycle sounds well on track so, as far as any water changes are concerned I wouldn't worry too much. I have done (and just completed one) several fishless cycles and have only done a water change during one of them.

Sometimes a fishless cycle will stall especially if it is taking a long time so a 50 -60% water change usually kicks things off again. Personally just at the point I feel that a water chage may help (as with my last one) I get the long awaited double zero.

Come back to us if things get a little wierd in a week or two

 

[Bugsvile]

There was a stall in ammonia moving anywhere for a long time, it was stuck at 1-2ppm, i added some more ammonia and got it up to 5 ppm and 12 hours later it was down to 1ppm, checked today after 24 hours and the ammonia was at 0ppm, so i got pass that stage, its just the wait for the Nitrite to drop.

Another quick one, should i add ammonia at 12hours if all has disapeared or wait 24 hours? I am sure i read somewhere wait 24hours even if it has gone in 12, but then on the beginers section it just says, when ammonia drops down to 0ppm top up to 4-5ppm.

I guess adding after 24hours does not overload the Nitrite to much and gives the bacteria a chance to get rid of some before the next lot comes along.

 

[OldMan47]

Wait the full day before topping up ammonia. There is no reason to force the nitrite processors to deal with even higher nitrite levels produced by double dosing.

 

[Bugsvile]

Thanks OM47, will stick to 24 hours then even though they seem to munch through the stuff so quickly