Fishless Cycle Log

[Harlequins]

tested 9.30am (12 hr)

ammonia 0.4
nitrite 0ff the chart

 

[OldMan47]

Don't be too surprised if the nitrites stay off the chart for 2 weeks or so. In the meantime, you can keep your ammonia processing bacteria going by only dosing up to 2 ppm. That way the nitrites won't build quite as high while you are waiting for the nitrite processors to build their numbers and the final nitrate levels will end up lower. Once you start processing nitrites is soon enough to bring your ammonia dose back up to 5 ppm.

 

[Harlequins]

Don't be too surprised if the nitrites stay off the chart for 2 weeks or so. In the meantime, you can keep your ammonia processing bacteria going by only dosing up to 2 ppm. That way the nitrites won't build quite as high while you are waiting for the nitrite processors to build their numbers and the final nitrate levels will end up lower. Once you start processing nitrites is soon enough to bring your ammonia dose back up to 5 ppm.

Oh bottoms!-just tested before i read this!

Ammonia 0.0 so i just added 5ppm again!(24 hr mark)

I will add less tomorrow if it reaches 0.

 

[Harlequins]

Day 6

Ammonia 0.0 (12 hr mark)Yah!!!

Now do i wait until 9.30pm tonight before i add 2ppm ammonia?

 

[waterdrop]

Right! Even if your ammonia reaches zero ppm earlier in the 24 hour period, you still wait to add ammonia at your same 24 hour mark as always. This helps to keep the nitrites and nitrates from building their excesses too much and also seems to be a good rhythm for the ammonia eating bacterial development.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Harlequins]

Right! Even if your ammonia reaches zero ppm earlier in the 24 hour period, you still wait to add ammonia at your same 24 hour mark as always. This helps to keep the nitrites and nitrates from building their excesses too much and also seems to be a good rhythm for the ammonia eating bacterial development.

~~waterdrop~~

Ok thanks ,both the nitrites/nitrates are off the colour chart at the moment,so i will be patient and not do a water change either

 

[Harlequins]

Tested 9.30pm

Ammonia 0.0 added 2ppm ammonia
nitrites 4.0 plus

 

[waterdrop]

 

[Harlequins]

9.30am (12hr)

Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites 0.5/1.5 Between the 2 readings,but defo dropping!! YAH!!

Added just a few fish flakes to keep it ticking over until tonight's ammonia dose!

 

[m00se]

Good going! This is the hardest bit! You're really getting there though. Nice clone

 

[Harlequins]

Good going! This is the hardest bit! You're really getting there though. Nice clone

Thanks m00se -and so may it continue!

 

[Harlequins]

9.30pm test

ammonia 0.0
nitrite 0.1

added 2ppm ammonia,

Fingers crossed for tomorrow morning!

 

[waterdrop]

Looks like your nitrite eaters are coming along now so its probably time to be easing back up to larger ammonia additions. Remember that we just had you down low at 2ppm for the nitrite spike period and now (at least for a 2ppm level of ammonia) you are getting past that. I'd make your next ammonia addition be more of a 3ppm (I know its a guesstimate), then gradually 4ppm over a couple days, then 5. Hopefully your "drops to zero" will follow you as you work back up.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Harlequins]

Looks like your nitrite eaters are coming along now so its probably time to be easing back up to larger ammonia additions. Remember that we just had you down low at 2ppm for the nitrite spike period and now (at least for a 2ppm level of ammonia) you are getting past that. I'd make your next ammonia addition be more of a 3ppm (I know its a guesstimate), then gradually 4ppm over a couple days, then 5. Hopefully your "drops to zero" will follow you as you work back up.

~~waterdrop~~

Ok thanks waterdrop

Unable to test water today,i have ran out of the test kit for ammonia and nitrite,
My api test kit is waiting in the sorting office for me,i popped out for 10 mins only to miss the postvan and i can't pick it up until tomorrow!!

I will add ammonia tonight just to keep it ticking over,

 

[Harlequins]

Added 2ppm ammonia last night,twas a bit late though at 11.30pm.

9.30am -new api test kit here!!

Ammonia 0
nitrite 0.50

Will add 3ppm ammonia tonight