Do These Cycle Figure Look Ok?

[RossC]

Hi, this is my first ever fish-less cycle and I've kept a journal with entries about twice a day, morning and late evening. Do these figures look ok so far? I have been using King British 6 in 1 Test Strips.


Thanks
EDIT: I've found the dip tests weren't very accurate sometimes and gave false readings. I have invested in an API Master Kit so hopefully the results should be better.

 

[cynic]

Hi, this is my first ever fish-less cycle and I've kept a journal with entries about twice a day, morning and late evening. Do these figures look ok so far? I have been using King British 6 in 1 Test Strips.


Thanks

Get yourself a liquid test kit as they are more reliable than the strips, also i'm assuming you have nitrate and nirite the wrong ways about on your chart. If your getting nitrate before the nitrite something is up.

 

[Xraymark]

Hi, this is my first ever fish-less cycle and I've kept a journal with entries about twice a day, morning and late evening. Do these figures look ok so far? I have been using King British 6 in 1 Test Strips.


Thanks

Get yourself a liquid test kit as they are more reliable than the strips, also i'm assuming you have nitrate and nirite the wrong ways about on your chart. If your getting nitrate before the nitrite something is up.

If not test your tap water for nitrate..
Nice log keeping.

 

[RossC]

Hi, this is my first ever fish-less cycle and I've kept a journal with entries about twice a day, morning and late evening. Do these figures look ok so far? I have been using King British 6 in 1 Test Strips.


Thanks

Get yourself a liquid test kit as they are more reliable than the strips, also i'm assuming you have nitrate and nirite the wrong ways about on your chart. If your getting nitrate before the nitrite something is up.

They are how the kit says I thought it was strange to have one without the other that's why I posted. What brand do you recommend? Also I do have plants as the chart shows, can that affect the results?

 

[Xraymark]

A lot of people on the forum use API liquid master kit. Covers all basis. Try amazon for about £20. In you LFS it's over £30.
Plants in a cycle use up ammonia which which can complicate measurements. Also you need lights on. Ammonia + lights can mean algae. This could be the reason your ammonia is dropping.
I've kept plants in a vase for months with water changes during my cycle. Somebody with more knowledge could advise if keeping them in tank.
Everybody's cycle is different but it usually takes around 2 weeks for ammonia to start dropping without plants. Don't let it go above 5ppm when dosing. Then when it drops to 0 dose up to 3ppm to allow correct bacteria to cultivate.
How many plants are in tank?
EditAlso your ph is dropping below 7. Low 6 the cycle will stall. The bacteria prefer a ph of around 8. You can either do a large water change or add some bicarbonate of soda. It's dependent on your tap water ph which should be tested after 24h. If bicarb route add tablespoon and then test an hour after.

 

[RossC]

A lot of people on the forum use API liquid master kit. Covers all basis. Try amazon for about £20. In you LFS it's over £30.
Plants in a cycle use up ammonia which which can complicate measurements. Also you need lights on. Ammonia + lights can mean algae. This could be the reason your ammonia is dropping.
I've kept plants in a vase for months with water changes during my cycle. Somebody with more knowledge could advise if keeping them in tank.
Everybody's cycle is different but it usually takes around 2 weeks for ammonia to start dropping without plants. Don't let it go above 5ppm when dosing. Then when it drops to 0 dose up to 3ppm to allow correct bacteria to cultivate.
How many plants are in tank?
EditAlso your ph is dropping below 7. Low 6 the cycle will stall. The bacteria prefer a ph of around 8. You can either do a large water change or add some bicarbonate of soda. It's dependent on your tap water ph which should be tested after 24h. If bicarb route add tablespoon and then test an hour after.

Yer I put the light on as much as I can an give full access to as much daylight as possible, no visible algae yet and I have around 39 plants, mainly Amazon swords. I also just read I have Zeolite in my filter media which I know can also drop ammonia fairly fast. I'll get my LFS to do a water test for me tomorrow and see if it matches up. I wanted to run the tank using plants but also build up some bacteria as a back up in case the plants fail for any reason. The intro of plants was recorded on the journal.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Get yourself a liquid based master test kit, it will be the most important purchase you ever make in the fishkeeping hobby world.


Tom

 

[RossC]

Get yourself a liquid based master test kit, it will be the most important purchase you ever make in the fishkeeping hobby world.


Tom

I think I'm going to have to I got my LFS to test the water and it gave a more accurate reading it seems sometimes dip tests have a mind of their own.
Thanks

 

[the_lock_man]

A lot of people on the forum use API liquid master kit. Covers all basis. Try amazon for about £20. In you LFS it's over £30.
Plants in a cycle use up ammonia which which can complicate measurements. Also you need lights on. Ammonia + lights can mean algae. This could be the reason your ammonia is dropping.
I've kept plants in a vase for months with water changes during my cycle. Somebody with more knowledge could advise if keeping them in tank.
Everybody's cycle is different but it usually takes around 2 weeks for ammonia to start dropping without plants. Don't let it go above 5ppm when dosing. Then when it drops to 0 dose up to 3ppm to allow correct bacteria to cultivate.
How many plants are in tank?
EditAlso your ph is dropping below 7. Low 6 the cycle will stall. The bacteria prefer a ph of around 8. You can either do a large water change or add some bicarbonate of soda. It's dependent on your tap water ph which should be tested after 24h. If bicarb route add tablespoon and then test an hour after.

Yer I put the light on as much as I can an give full access to as much daylight as possible, no visible algae yet and I have around 39 plants, mainly Amazon swords. I also just read I have Zeolite in my filter media which I know can also drop ammonia fairly fast. I'll get my LFS to do a water test for me tomorrow and see if it matches up. I wanted to run the tank using plants but also build up some bacteria as a back up in case the plants fail for any reason. The intro of plants was recorded on the journal.

95l tank with 39 plants? I reckon that's where your ammonia is going (the plants prefer ammonia to nitrate as a fertiliser). It's probably why you've got no algae as well. I would say you are best off doing a silent cycle - ie using the plants to take the ammonia produced by the fish.

The forum has a bright shiny new planted tanks subsection, I suggest you go onto there, describe your set-up and ask advice about how to silent cycle.

 

[RossC]

A lot of people on the forum use API liquid master kit. Covers all basis. Try amazon for about £20. In you LFS it's over £30.
Plants in a cycle use up ammonia which which can complicate measurements. Also you need lights on. Ammonia + lights can mean algae. This could be the reason your ammonia is dropping.
I've kept plants in a vase for months with water changes during my cycle. Somebody with more knowledge could advise if keeping them in tank.
Everybody's cycle is different but it usually takes around 2 weeks for ammonia to start dropping without plants. Don't let it go above 5ppm when dosing. Then when it drops to 0 dose up to 3ppm to allow correct bacteria to cultivate.
How many plants are in tank?
EditAlso your ph is dropping below 7. Low 6 the cycle will stall. The bacteria prefer a ph of around 8. You can either do a large water change or add some bicarbonate of soda. It's dependent on your tap water ph which should be tested after 24h. If bicarb route add tablespoon and then test an hour after.

Yer I put the light on as much as I can an give full access to as much daylight as possible, no visible algae yet and I have around 39 plants, mainly Amazon swords. I also just read I have Zeolite in my filter media which I know can also drop ammonia fairly fast. I'll get my LFS to do a water test for me tomorrow and see if it matches up. I wanted to run the tank using plants but also build up some bacteria as a back up in case the plants fail for any reason. The intro of plants was recorded on the journal.

95l tank with 39 plants? I reckon that's where your ammonia is going (the plants prefer ammonia to nitrate as a fertiliser). It's probably why you've got no algae as well. I would say you are best off doing a silent cycle - ie using the plants to take the ammonia produced by the fish.

The forum has a bright shiny new planted tanks subsection, I suggest you go onto there, describe your set-up and ask advice about how to silent cycle.

Thanks I'll post right away