Danny's Cycle...

[DannyBlackbourn]

My Cycle:

Thursday 16th July

Test 1:10:50am No water change.
NitrIte: 2.0ppm

Test 2: 11:20am 50% Water Change at 11:00am
NitrIte: 2.0ppm

Test 3: 13:45pm 50% Water Change at 12:20pm
NitrIte: 2.0ppm

Test 4. 15:52pm 80% water change at 14:40pm. Plants added, AmQuel+ water treatment added
NitrIte: Looks to me like its reading between 1-2.00ppm now. More 2.0ppm though.

Test 5. 16:37pm
NitrIte: 2.0ppm
NitrAte: 20ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.4

Friday 17th July

Test 6. 10:50am
NitrIte: 2.0ppm
NitrAte: Between 20-40ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.4

Test 7. 16:51pmGravel clean at 17:00pm
NitrIte: I can't tell if its 0.5 or 1.0ppm
Nitrate: Between 20-40ppm still
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.4

Test 8. 19:16pm 50% water change at 18:40pm
NitrIte: 0.5ppm
Nitrate: Between 20-40ppm still
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.4

Saturday 18th July

Test 10. 11.44pmNo water change. Fed fish after test.
NitrIte: 1.0ppm
NitrAte: 20ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.4

Sunday 19th July

Test 11. 11:25am50% water change at 12:00am previous night.
NitrIte:1.0ppm
NitrAte:20ppm
Ammonia:0ppm
PH:7.4

Test 12. 22.42pm 50% water change at 20:25pm. Also a good gravel clean.
NitrIte:1.0ppm
NitrAte:20ppm
Ammonia:0ppm
PH:7.4

Monday 20th July

Test 13. 11:00am No water change.
NitrIte:Can't tell if its 0.5ppm or 1.0ppm

Test 14. 15:15pm Fed fish about 12:00pm
NitrIte: 1.0ppm

Test 15. 16:20pm. 50% water Change and quick Gravel clean at 15.20pm
NitrIte:0.50ppm - Gone back down again...

Right I have decided to change the gravel in my tank and perform a full water change
Test 16. 18:59pm. This is a test of the water in with the new gravel
NitrIte:0ppm

Test 16. 20:23pm 20 mins after cleaning out tank.
NitrIte:0ppm

Test 17. 21:36pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 10ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.4

Test 18. 22:38pm fed the fish at about 22:30pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 19. 23:37pm Last test of tonight.
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Tuesday 21st July

Test 20. 09:35am
NitrIte: 0.25ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 21. 11:00am 50% water change at 10:20am
NitrIte: <0.25ppm
Ammonia:0ppm

Test 22. 13:20pm 50% water change at 12:00pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm

Test 23. 17:00pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm

Test 24. 18:40pm Going to football now. Next test at 22:00pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm

Test 25. 21:50pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm - Looks like it should be 0.20ppm

I was naughty and fed the Fish... 23:06pm.

Wednesday 22nd July

Test 26. 10:30am
NitrIte: 0.50ppm - Maybe cause I fed the fish?
Ammonia:0ppm

Test 27. 13:00pm Performed a 70% water change at 11:50am
NitrIte:<0.25ppm I would say its 0.05ppm

Test 28. 15:00pm
NitrIte:<0.25ppm a tad darker than earlier also. maybe 0.20ppm

Test 29. 17:00pm
NitrIte:0.25ppm

Test 30. 17:45pm
NitrIte:0.25ppm
NitrAte: 20ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.8? Why has my PH raised?

Test 31. 21:30pm
NitrIte:0.25ppm

Thursday 23nd July

Test 32. 11:05am
NitrIte: 0.50ppm

Test 33. 13:00pm 50% water change at 11:45am
NitrIte: <0.25ppm
NitrAte: 20ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: Looks like 7.6

Test 34. 17:00pm
NitrIte: 0.25ppm

Friday 24th July

Test 35. 10:00am
NitrIte: 0.25ppm

Test 36. 12:15pm
NitrIte: <0.50ppm

Test 37. 15:30pm
NitrIte: <0.25

Test 38. 18:00pm
NitrIte: <0.25

Saturday 25th July

Test 39. 11:30am
NitrIte: 0.50ppm

Test 40. 15:50pm50% water change at 12:00pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm

Test 41. 19:20pm
NitrIte: 0.25ppm

Test 42. 22:35pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm

Sunday 26th July

Test 43. 19:48pm
NitrIte: 0.25ppm

Test 44. 22:40pm
NitrIte: 0.25ppm

Monday 27th July

Test 45. 15:08
NitrIte: <0.25ppm (Looks about 0.05ppm)

Test 46. 19:00pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm (Looks about 0.10ppm)

Test 47. 22:45pm
NitrIte: <0.25ppm (Looks about 0.05ppm)
Ammonia: 0ppm

Tuesday 28th July

Changed the test chart I was comparing my Ammonia to... I am using the saltwater API Master Kit and think that the Ammonia card chart is different for Freshwater.
With thanks to Alchemist for providing me with the following link 'Colour charts' I was able to correctly test the Ammonia within my tank.

Test 48. 11:00am
NitrIte: 0ppm

Test 49. 11:00pm 3 guppies added to tank.
NitrIte: 0ppm

Wednesday 29th July

Test 50. 11:00am
NitrIte: <0.25ppm (Looks about 0.05ppm)
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 51. 18:30pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 20ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.8

Thursday 30th July

Test 51. 11:30am
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
PH: 7.8

Test 52. 17:15pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 53. 00:30am
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Friday 31st July

Test 54. 11:00am
NitrIte: <0.25ppm (About 0.05ppm)
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 55. 21:00pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Saturday 1st August

Test 56. 11:00am
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 57. 20:00pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Sunday 2nd August

Test 58. 10:20am
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Test 59. 20:00
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Monday 3rd August

Test 60. 11:40am
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

NitrAte test: 13:50
NitrAte: 40ppm

Test 61. 16:00pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 20-40ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.8

Tuesday 4th August

Test 62. 13:40pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 40ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Wednesday 5th August

Test 63. 10:00am
NitrIte: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Thursday 6th August

Test 64. 13:00pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: About 30ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.6

Added 5 Amano shrimp to the tank.
They seem to have taken fine... looks like they are hungry though, been in the tank just over an hour and have shredded a few of my plants already!

Friday 7th August

Test 65. 12:00pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 80ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Seems that the Amano Shrimp added has really increased the Nitrate in my tank.
25% water change.

Saturday 8th August

Test 66. 13:00pm
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 80ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

Decided to perform another water change. This time 50% also I have taken out the plants that were in the tank as the shrimp have totally ripped them apart... leaving me with pieces of plant floating around the tank!

Also added a Gourami to the tank. (not sure what species yet.... will find out)

Will be keeping an eye on my Levels again now for the next few weeks!


Sunday 9th August

Test 67. 11:00am
NitrIte: 0ppm
NitrAte: 20-40ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
PH: 7.8

 

[tropic_john]

So today I am dedicating myself to bring down my NitrIte levels from 2.0ppm to 0ppm.

I will only be testing my NitrIte levels because I don't see the need to test everything else also.
I will be preforming 50% water changes and leaving it 20minutes before I test the water again.
Also I will be changing the water only once per hour so I don't stress out the fish.

I am using 'Stress Coat+' water Conditioner

Test 1: No water change. 10:50am
NitrIte: 2.0ppm

Water Change at 11am

Test 2: 50% Water Change: 11.20am
Nitrite: 2.0ppm

Still no luck, but with one water Change I wasn't expecting anything to be honest.
Next change at 12.20pm

Test 3: 50% Water Change: 12.20pm

Your fish produce ammonia by pooing, which turns into nitrite which is eaten up by the filter bacteria and turned into nitrate, then to get rid of nitrates, you do waterchanges and if you want to, have plants [they eat nitrates]

Regards,

John.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

If I add plants wont they just die?

I only have a standard 10w light.

Would this be O.k for plants to live in? plus with my Nitrite being at 2.0ppm that's pretty high right?

 

[Bobtastic]

Is this a problem that you've always had with your Nitrite levels? Have you tested you tap water to see if there are any Nitrites straight out of the tap?

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

My Nitrite has risen but I assume this is due to me adding Fish.

I have tested my water supply and Nitrite result comes in at 0ppm

 

[tropic_john]

My Nitrite has risen but I assume this is due to me adding Fish.

I have tested my water supply and Nitrite result comes in at 0ppm

Plants do well in nearly all water as long as they have a light source and water [with tiny amounts of nitrates]

Also, my light in my 10g is 13w/12v

 

[Harlequins]

I'm a newbie to it all,but i have started using prime for when i do water changes to declorinate and it's suppose to detoxify harmful nitrites etc making them less toxic to the fish. Just a suggestion,the experts are the ones to ask

 

[arobinson1984]

If I was you I would do a huge water change (80/90%, just leave enough water to cover your fish) as long as your properly dechlorinate the fresh water and temp match it the best you can then it should be fine.

Also, leave 1 hour after a water change before testing to give the levels a chance to stabilise

Andy

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

If I was you I would do a huge water change (80/90%, just leave enough water to cover your fish) as long as your properly dechlorinate the fresh water and temp match it the best you can then it should be fine.

Also, leave 1 hour after a water change before testing to give the levels a chance to stabilise

Andy

I've just got in from popping out to my LFS.

I have bought two new plants and some AmQuel+ to try get rid of some nitrites also.

I will preform a 80% water Change after I have tested the water now...

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

results updated.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

*Updated*

 

[tropic_john]

new fts?

 

[doggiebag]

I sympathize with you on this nitrite battle. Im doing a fish-in cycle and woke this morning to a nitrite spike of 5 ! I have done 5 water changes today of between 50% and 80%, best I can get it down to is mid way between 0 and 0.25 but it seems to be rising about 0.25 per hour !!! I've just added some prime to help protect the fish, due another test and change at 11pm, just hope it holds overnight.

I feel for you mate, its stressfull and tough to keep the nitrites down once they spike.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

new fts?

Here you go.

I sympathize with you on this nitrite battle. Im doing a fish-in cycle and woke this morning to a nitrite spike of 5 ! I have done 5 water changes today of between 50% and 80%, best I can get it down to is mid way between 0 and 0.25 but it seems to be rising about 0.25 per hour !!! I've just added some prime to help protect the fish, due another test and change at 11pm, just hope it holds overnight.

I feel for you mate, its stressfull and tough to keep the nitrites down once they spike.

I can't seem to even get any drop in Nitrite levels...?

Could it be my gravel? and I feed my fish twice a day... could that be overfeeding and causing Nitrite levels to rise?

 

[arobinson1984]

Its certainly possible that you may be overfeeding.

Only feed once a day, and I'd actually feed once every other day for the time being to keep waste and ammonia levels down.

Do you have a gravel vac?

You will need to clean the gravel weekly

Andy