Fish In Cycle (Now Fishless)

[stubs]

If nitrites are at 5ppm, then you are in the nitrite spike.


1ppm processes to 2.7ppm nitrite and then to 3.6ppm nitrate, so the high nitrate numbers are expected - watch out for a pH crash.

*Goes to check pH*

 

[stubs]

If nitrites are at 5ppm, then you are in the nitrite spike.


1ppm processes to 2.7ppm nitrite and then to 3.6ppm nitrate, so the high nitrate numbers are expected - watch out for a pH crash.

*Goes to check pH*

The pH test was showing quite high(looked to be above 7.8)so took a high range test and it's at pH 8.0 so it's gone up since my last pH test not down, any ideas what could be causing this?

 

[StuartLarge]

Ho Stubs, welcome to the forum

I am in Romford too, I am guessing your LFS is wetpets? they are pretty good in there and I have never had any probs with fish from there. In fact, thats were I got my first lot when I started at the beginning of the year. Now I use a place called Wayside Aquatics near Brentwood http/www.waysideaquatics.co.uk/.
It's a smaller shop, but brilliant service from an independent seller who genuinely cares about what he does.
Good luck with everything mate, there are some great people on this forum who will help you every step of the way.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

8.0 is actually pretty good for the pH. The optimum pH is around 8.4, so I wouldn't worry about it for right now.


But, just in case this is a concern for when you have fish... What is in your tank? What's the substrate? If you used crushed coral, then that would raise the pH.

 

[stubs]

Ho Stubs, welcome to the forum

I am in Romford too, I am guessing your LFS is wetpets? they are pretty good in there and I have never had any probs with fish from there. In fact, thats were I got my first lot when I started at the beginning of the year. Now I use a place called Wayside Aquatics near Brentwood http/www.waysideaquatics.co.uk/.
It's a smaller shop, but brilliant service from an independent seller who genuinely cares about what he does.
Good luck with everything mate, there are some great people on this forum who will help you every step of the way.

Thanks mate

Not tried Wetpets as yet, funnily enough I was going to take a tip over there today, I did try one in Noak hill, I forget the name but was not too impressed. Wayside looks promising, I will pay them a visit also!

Thanks for the welcome Stuart

8.0 is actually pretty good for the pH. The optimum pH is around 8.4, so I wouldn't worry about it for right now.


But, just in case this is a concern for when you have fish... What is in your tank? What's the substrate? If you used crushed coral, then that would raise the pH.

Thanks mate - I just have gravel in at the moment no crushed coral, a couple of plants, and that's it.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Did you dose with baking soda previously? How long after you dosed did you measure it? Sometimes it takes a while before the baking soda circulates around the entire tank and raises the pH for the entire thing the way that should.

 

[stubs]

Did you dose with baking soda previously? How long after you dosed did you measure it? Sometimes it takes a while before the baking soda circulates around the entire tank and raises the pH for the entire thing the way that should.

Not dosed with baking soda, should I have?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Dosing with baking soda is not essential. It performs a valuable role in the cycling process though for some people. For people with soft water (like me) it provides additional buffering capacity to prevent a pH crash. It also raises the pH for people with lower levels (like me). The bacteria multiply fastest at about 8.4 pH, and that is roughly what the baking soda will raise the pH to if you add it.


Thinking about this some more...

I just went back through the thread, and one thing that can really help the cycling experts (waterdrop, OldMan47, and a few others) who happen by to help you with any anomalous situations is to post a log of all your readings in the first post - just edit it and update as you would your journal.


Sometimes the pH will flucuate after a water change, because the water in the tap has more gas (specifically CO2) dissolved in it than will remain in the tank. The evaporation of CO2 after the water change will result in a higher pH once the CO2 has dissipated than before. So, depending on how soon after you did your water change and when you tested your water, whether or not that actually is the reason for the rise in pH. You can test your tap straight away and then let it sit (dechlorinated) for about 24 hours, and test it again. You will probably see a difference in your pH, as it rises a bit.

 

[waterdrop]

The tap water in this case sounds quite good for cycling. The ph where we see optimal beneficial bacterial growth is a range from 8.0 to 8.4 but we still see good growth pretty far outside that range too, so there is no apparent need here to worry about baking soda.

This fishless cycle seems to be on track and the advice sounds good. Continue to monitor all the things going on and seek interaction about them and all should go well over the coming weeks.

~~waterdrop~~
ps. wecome to TFF!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Wow, WD - right on cue!

 

[StuartLarge]

Thanks mate

Not tried Wetpets as yet, funnily enough I was going to take a tip over there today, I did try one in Noak hill, I forget the name but was not too impressed. Wayside looks promising, I will pay them a visit also!

Thanks for the welcome Stuart

That must have been Tisbury's, I agree a bit tatty in there and they sell fish that have been dyed so I won't be returning any time soon. The last time I went the manager had forgotten that he had left a snake by the entrance unattended, that was nice

 

[stubs]

Thanks mate

Not tried Wetpets as yet, funnily enough I was going to take a tip over there today, I did try one in Noak hill, I forget the name but was not too impressed. Wayside looks promising, I will pay them a visit also!

Thanks for the welcome Stuart

That must have been Tisbury's, I agree a bit tatty in there and they sell fish that have been dyed so I won't be returning any time soon. The last time I went the manager had forgotten that he had left a snake by the entrance unattended, that was nice

That's the place, same, I will not be returning! *EDIT* They dye the fish?? is that a common practice? and why, better colour I assume?

Added a daily log to the opening post.

Thanks Eagles & Waterdrop, your help is greatly appreciated

 

[stubs]

So the Ammonia seems to be taking longer to process at the moment, I expected it to be at zero today but it sits at 0.25ppm.

Ammo: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm

Also notice we have quite a few small snails in the tank, must have come from the plants?, could they affect the cycle?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I wouldn't worry about that too much. Your nitrates are a little high, so eventually before the cycle ends, you may have to do a water change to remove them. I've heard that higher nitrate levels can stall a cycle, but I don't think you have approached that level yet.


You will probably have to do two massive water changes anyway at the end, just to get the nitrates down so that your tank water more closely matches your tap values. But again, I don't think you need to worry about that yet.

 

[stubs]

Thanks again eagles

Well just got home from work, tested again and it seems that Nitrite has gone from 5ppm to 0 in 24 hours!!

Ammo: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 80 -100ppm

What's going on? is it possible for it to drop that quick? and if so that's good right? what do I do next? I think I know but I might be reading the guide wrong!!and I am paranoid I will mess it up

Cheers