Fishless Cycle Diary-back From Hols :)

[waterdrop]

pH=7.4 is a whole pH point below optimal and yet you have pretty large colonies of both species of bacteria eating their way through a lot of ammonia and nitrite(NO2) by the time 24 hours rolls around... to think of it on the positive side

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ellena]

Thanks for trying but I don't want to be positive
I just keep seeing posts saying 'swap new media for old, you'll be instantly cycled'. I've done that and am still miles off.

 

[ellena]

Day 37 23hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-0
pH-7.4
+1.3ml NH3 > 4ppm

Day 38 12hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-0
pH-7.4

24.5 hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-0
pH-7.4
I got my mum head on tonight and said 'you're not having any more until you've eaten that'

Day 39 36hrs
NH3-0
NO2-0
pH-7.2
+1.3ml NH3 > 4ppm

14hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-1
pH-7.2

Day 40 24hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-1
pH-6.8/7
Heading for another crash I think-I'll do a water change tonight.

 

[waterdrop]

excellent, you have a good eye for the cycle numbers

 

[ellena]

Hi all, back from my hols-wet and windy in cumbria!
The fish food seems to have kept it ticking over nicely

Day 46 (day we got back)
NH3-1
NO2-0
pH-7.6

Day 47
NH3-0.25
NO2-0
pH-7.6
added 1.3ml
I also added an airpump at this point as it's the only thing in the instruction post I haven't done.

13hrs
NH3-1
NO2-1
pH-7.2

Day 48 24hrs
NH3-0
NO2-1
pH-7.2
90% change and added 1.3ml > 4ppm

12hrs
NH3-0
NO2-1
pH-7.6

Day 49 21hrs
NO2-just off 0
pH-7.6

31hrs added 1.3ml
NH3-4
pH-8.4

 

[waterdrop]

You're getting really close A-Bacs seem to be consistently making some zero at 12 hours hits and the N-Bacs are trying hard to be there too looks like...

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ellena]

Day 50 14hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-1
pH-7.6

24hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-0
pH-7.6
added NH3

Day 51 14hrs
NH3-0
NO2-0.5 getting better
pH-7.6

 

[waterdrop]

I'd say you're lucky in having numbers that seem to "behave!"

~~waterdrop~~