Cycling Results

[EthanF]

okay so here are some more results:
i add 1.5 ml of ammonia which takes it up to around 3ppm and NOW it goes down to 0, yellow on the test kit in less than 24 hours.
i read that this means there is enough bacteria to suffice however there is still a lot of nitrite... HELP?

 

[dgwebster]

You are processing the ammonia no problems but your nitrite bacteria are still culturing to cope with the amount being produced. Keep topping up your ammonia to keep your nitrite level "status quo" with your fish-in ammonia production until both ammonia and nitrite are reading zero in one day

 

[EthanF]

okay thanks for the help

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You do not need to add any ammonia until your nitrite reading clearly goes under 1.0 on an API, or similar, kit. When it does, add to get 3 ppm of ammonia and test in 24. If you get 0/0, you are good to go if not, wait for ammonia to be .25 or less and nitrite clearly under 1.0 and repeat the add and test in 24 process. You should be pretty close and not have to repeat this more than once or twice.
 
The bacteria will do just fine not being given ammonia every day. All you are doing now is waiting for the nitrite oxidizers to catch up.

 

[EthanF]

Thanks so much