Cycling Question

[PA_fishlover]

I started cycling my 40g tank on Aug 23. My ammonia levels are hitting 0 at least every 12 hours now. Nitrates showed up on Sept 2 and have been off the charts for about a week now. Nitrates are still only between 5 and 10. Is this normal for the nitrates to take this long to rise?

Lisa

 

[ctsv510]

How much ammonia is being consumed in 12 hours? My nitrites spiked to 5 ppm+ for about a week before I started seeing the nitrates rising. When they did they shot up 40 ppm overnight. What is your pH? It is common for pH to drop during a cycle, and if it gets too low (6) it can stall your cycle.

 

[PA_fishlover]

Ammonia is added to 4ish ppm. Last time I checked my pH it was 7.2, which is lower than when I first set up the tank and it was closer to 7.8

 

[ctsv510]

I assume when you said nitrates were off the scale that you meant nitrites. You could be really close to those dropping out if they've been up for a week but you may consider a partial water change to bring the nitrites down to a level that is more manageable for the bacteria.

I haven't been able to find specific information on what effect the nitrites getting really really high has on a fishless cycle other than some mentions of it possibly stalling it. I'm pretty sure you don't need sky-high nitrite levels for the bacteria to establish itself, so I'd say the safe bet would be to do at least a 50% water change to bring that level down.

 

[Aqua Tom]

I would also raise the Ph to 8 by adding bicarb of soda, available in the homebacking eisle at your local supermarket.

Dose at 1 teaspoon per 40 litres (if I remember correctly).


Tom

 

[Katch]

If you started on the 23rd August you are on track. Keep an eye on your pH; if it drops below 7 buffer up with bicarb.

Just keep checking your nitrites every 24 hours until they come back 0. This part of the cycle can sometimes be a bit stuborn and then suddenly over night the nitrites have gone.

Keep at it!

 

[the_lock_man]

Try reducing the ammonia dose to 3ppm - this will reduce the amount of nitrite being produced by the A-Bacs, while still maintaining the A-bacs colony.

Once your ammonia and nitrite are going down to 0 in 24hours, up the dose again to 5ppm, until it's all being processed in 12hours.

 

[PA_fishlover]

How often should I be re-dosing the ammonia? Every 12 hours or every 24?

Thanks

 

[the_lock_man]

Every 24 hours.

 

[PA_fishlover]

Every 24 hours.

Ahhh....I've been adding more ammonia every 12 hours. Definitely going to cut back on that and do a partial water change to see if that will bring things more under control. I was hoping this whole process would be done by the weekend. My husband and oldest son are anxious to get some fish in the tank, and my 19 month old looks in the tank and says "ish?" every day.

Thanks for all your help.


Lisa