Day 18 Of Fishless Cycle

[Paul70]

Hi all,
not posted for a week or so but here it is. I am on day 18 of my fishless cycle in my juwel rekord 800. pH has until now been around the 8.0-8.2 mark and for the past week ammonia has been processing from 4.0ppm -0 in 12 hours and nitrites have always read around 5.0ppm.

Yesterday I got nitrites down to 0ppm as well as ammonia in 12 hours but my pH dropped to 7.6.

Then today disaster. Got home from having been out and found electricity off and water temp down to 25c from 29c so I suspect that it had been off for a good 5 hours so no circulation in tank. I checked my water at 12 hours from last ammonia dose and ammonia is at 0.25-0.5ppm and nitrites are back up to +5ppm.

Have my n-bacs died off or could it simply be that the power outage has delayed today's cycle?

I hope it is the latter cos my patience has been tested so far but I have stuck it out successfully up to now. I know 18 days is still quite early in the cycle but I was hoping for a quick cycle by my readings to date.

 

[KittyKat]

If only about 5 hours, then most likely just a temporary set back and you should be back on track in a couple of days. It generally takes a lot more than a short power cut to kill bacteria off. My filters managed to survive a 2 day drive across a continent in the middle of winter without the bacteria suffering any serious damage.

 

[electropunk06]

Hi
i would guess the power has just delayed them, so no permanent damage.
What is your PH at?

 

[Paul70]

#29### I forgot to put that in lol. it is currently 6.8.

I would like to think that this is what it will settle at once cycling is completed but I fear that it may be a setback. I do hope that kitty kat is right that is only temporary

 

[electropunk06]

6.8 isn't too bad. would be faster if you are willing to raise it a little
What fish are you thinking of stocking, when your all done?
Lloyd

 

[Paul70]

my initial thoughts are a few cardinal tetra, pentazona barbs and a loach or 2. I quite like harlequins as well but i'm gonna introduce them gently at first until the water gets more settled.

how much bicarbonate of soda will I need to raise pH back up to 8.0?

 

[KittyKat]

I would like to think that this is what it will settle at once cycling is completed

The pH? It will, but you might want to up with with some bicarbonate of soda while cycling to speed up the process.

 

[electropunk06]

Hi those fish should do great at 6.8 or maybe a little lower.
A few spoonfuls of bicarb should be right to get your PH up.

 

[Paul70]

ok, thanks. will pop 2 tsp of bicarb in and see what happens (Kaboom!)

 

[Paul70]

put in 3 tspns bicarb and pH now just shy of 8.0
hopefully tomorrow morning at 9am things will have happened again.

 

[waterdrop]

two teaspoon per 50L is about a medium dose. 8.0 to 8.4 pH is optimal for growth. WD

 

[KittyKat]

Off topic: Paul70, is that plant on the right a live one? If it is, take it out (and the other two of the same) and put them in pots, they're house plants

 

[Paul70]

on your advice on other posts kat I have removed the red swords