Fishless Cycle Day 19

[Smart_Blue]

Results

AMMONIA. 0ppm
NITRITE. 5+ppm
NITRATE. 80ppm

Waiting to do a water change before PH (7.2 from tap)


Any advice of next step?

Cheers

 

[fluttermoth]

What ppm of ammonia are you dosing to, and how long is it taking to get to zero?

 

[Smart_Blue]

dosing to 4-5ppm and it's taking 24hrs approx to come back to 0ppm

Thanks

 

[Mowbz]

Not yet unfortunately! But nearly!

You are fully cycled when it can handle 4ppm in 12 hours. If its doing it comfortably in 24hrs now, switch to 12 hour testing. The beginners resource centre has all the info you need for this next stage.

Congratulations on your work so far!

 

[Smart_Blue]

Readings taken this morning after 12 hours from topping up to 4-5ppm

Results AMMONIA = 0.5-1ppm

So nearly eating them all up...

NITRITES seem off the chart - purple as soon as test droplets are applied.

Do I keep topping up untill Nitrites start dropping? Or leave it now untill Ammonia & Nitrites drop to 0?

Thanks

 

[Miles_hot]

Don't dose until ammonia hits 0 and then do 2ppm. If the nitrite stays off the scale for a daft amount of time do a water change to bring it.down as very high levels will inhibit the bacteria you're trying to develop

 

[Smart_Blue]

How big of water change you suggest? There are tiny white floaty things bandying around in there.. It's nearly been 4 weeks like without a water change..

 

[Smart_Blue]

Day 20

12 hours from topping Ammonia to 4-5ppm

AMMONIA = 0
NITRITES = 5+ (deep purple)
NITRATES = 80ppm (after 20% water change)
PH = 7.2


SUMMARY - it's coping with 4-5ppm Ammonia in 12 hours, now do I leave it untill Nitrites comes to 0 too?

An answer would be welcome before I go to bed, so I can top Ammonia up if need be..... Cheers

 

[Miles_hot]

sorry I missed you're question before you went to bed!

you should to up with ammonia when the ammonia hits zero (as it has now). As you have had the Nitrite spike you should dose to 2ppm to give the N-bacs a chance to deal with the Nitrite. When they are processing 2ppm to double zero you then bring the dose back up to 4ppm and you'll be cycled when they can deal with the full dose in 12 hours.

On the Nitrates we found the cycle could slow / stall when the nitrates got to 100 or so so you might want to keep and eye on that and do a 100% water change if you're concerned that this is happening to you (then dose back to 2ppm when you've done the water change).

HTH

Miles

 

[Smart_Blue]

Not to worry, Thanks Miles, I topped it up to 2ppm this morning before work, will check again in 12 hours from then.

nearly there