Fishless cycle inally getting somewhere

Sky042

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Well after a small setback this weekend where I cooked off some of the bacteria (tank got up to 98 degrees) tonight my ammonia finally hit zero for the first time in about 1.5 weeks. I probably could have let it hit that sooner but I've been pumping the ammo levels to 8ppm every time I add more just to make sure I have a VERY hardy bacteria bed. I just added some more in and am hoping that tomorrow its back to zero meaning its handling the ammount of ammonia I'm givning it (enough to give 46g 8ppm)

Now I'm into the dreaded Nitrite waiting stage. I have NO idea how high my nitrates are as the medium pink on my test strip represents 10ppm and the test strip is turning violet adn the liquid test I have is even worse I think I invented a new color. The liquid test is supposed to turn some shade of purple after 5 mins. mine changes to DARK purple in about 5 seconds and after 5 mins the vial is completely clear only thing I can assume is its gone beyond visible pigmentation or something but its clearly FAR beyond the test kits ability to test for nitrite.

Nitrate is 200+ppm so I'm going to have to do one hell of a water change prior to fish being introduced but I already knew that much.

One that that was bugging me is the PH had dropped of the bottom of my scale to below 6.0 so I added some sodium bicarbonate and brought it back to 7.2

Dirftwood is almost sunk. Rocks are in we're getting there. Now that the tank is cleared I gotta say I can't wait to see the fish in those rocks I made the caves and pathways large enough that my loaches won't be stuck even once they hit 6+ inches. I can't wait.......and to boot I convinced my LFS to sell me cardinal tetras for the same price as neons ($1.29/eachUSD)
 
Congratulations! :clap:
Does your LFS test water for you? Maybe they have a different test with higher readings...
 
Mesome said:
Congratulations! :clap:
Does your LFS test water for you? Maybe they have a different test with higher readings...
No unfortunately they use the API liquid tests which I already have. I'm not worried about it the key is to catch when it gets to zero really so I'll just have to be patient.
 
from 8ppm last night to 2 ppm right now. I figure by 11:30 tonight when I normally add ammonia it should be down to zero again.
 
This is great news and I'm sure that you have all sorts of excitement over the planning of the tank. I like the way you are doing it as it gives you time to really think about what you want in there AND no fish are stressed trying to make it safe for others.
On a side note, that's great about the price for the cardinals but I'm a little concerned as several folks here (that I respect, opinion wise) have stated that the cardinal fish is better suited to a seasoned tank (6 mo. min.) are you concerned about that or have you even heard of that before?

ALASKA

I can't wait to see your tank with the fish and all in it!!! :D
 
jams.alaskan said:
This is great news and I'm sure that you have all sorts of excitement over the planning of the tank. I like the way you are doing it as it gives you time to really think about what you want in there AND no fish are stressed trying to make it safe for others.
On a side note, that's great about the price for the cardinals but I'm a little concerned as several folks here (that I respect, opinion wise) have stated that the cardinal fish is better suited to a seasoned tank (6 mo. min.) are you concerned about that or have you even heard of that before?

ALASKA

I can't wait to see your tank with the fish and all in it!!! :D
Yes I know about cardinals and I wasn't planning to make them the first additions to the tank. I was just thrilled that the store by me was going to sell them that cheap and not the 4+ that some stores want for cardinals.

The 2 loaches I've got will join with a 3rd and will likely be the first occupants of the tank. Probably not the best idea but I don't wanna leave the little guys in the 5g much longer. Not sure who else will be the initial occupants but I'm still working it out and I've got time.
 
Well tonights reading was less than impressive. I was only down to 1ppm after 24 hours. I was really expecting to be back at 0 again. I guess I've got a few more days of this ammonia cycle left.
 

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