End Of Fishless Cycle

[craigieboy01]

Hi, I'm nearing the end of my fishless cycle, my ammonia level is going from 5ppm to 0ppm every 24 hrs for the last few days, think i read that i should be testing every 12 hours and when it has went to 0 for a full week, thats me done? Have i missed anything?

 

[jpeterson]

Sounds good to me. Start testing every 12 hours and see what your getting. Post the results on here if you like and someone will let you know if your near done.

 

[waterdrop]

Its both the ammonia and the resulting nitrite(NO2) that need to be dropping to zero ppm within 12 hours (from when you dosed the ammonia) and yes, you want to watch it do that successfully for a week. WD

 

[craigieboy01]

Hi Waterdrop, I'm using an Api master testkit, I dont seem to be getting Nitrite readings, although i'm getting Nitrates, Is that a problem?

 

[Twinklecaz]

Well all I can think then is maybe you are cycled and your nitrite is processing in 12 hours (so before you have a chance to read it). I think you should do 12 hour tests to be sure tho.

I could be totally wrong tho, wait for WD or someone

 

[waterdrop]

Without me looking back at the threads can you remind me if you ever had a nitrite spike and if so how long in days? What is your total fishless cycling time so far and did you put in any mature media? WD

 

[craigieboy01]

After some issues with temperature and changing the gravel to sand which i know would have slowed the cycle down, i also had a Ph crash which i resolved by adding Bicarbonate, I did have a Nitrite spike a couple of months ago, i wasnt testing Nitrites every time i done an ammonia check, i know now that i should have been, i'm now keeping a more accurate written log, I have been cycling since January, I know its a long time but after a few issues, i think i'm just about ready to decorate and stock tank, but i will defo start checking every 12 hours, although i checked this morning after 24 hrs and ammonia was still showing 0.5ppm, so i think i still need to be patient.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Wow that's a long time. Mine's shaping up to be a long one too so I get how impatient you must be feeling by now. Getting kinda worried some of the fish I want will be extinct by the time I get there! lol!

 

[waterdrop]

Ha~ Twink you are entertaining lol

 

[craigieboy01]

Impatient!!! Thats for sure, I have nieces and nephews got all the fish picked already and were not even cycled yet, they keep phoning and asking can we go and get them yet??? Haha

 

[Twinklecaz]

Lol anytime WD

Yeah I keep getting people asking me why I haven't got them yet. I'm like "RIGHT, I'll explain this once more!"