Fishless Cycle Log

[OldMan47]

When trying to figure out how much water to change, don't forget that the mix of new and old water will be based on the percentage you change. If you remove half the water, half the ammonia will be gone and replaced by tap water. If you do 20% on 8 ppm, you can expect between 6 and 7 ppm after you are done.

 

[coldcazzie]

Yep, did another test and it still read as close to 8, so did another 25% and this time it read more like 4, possibly around 5? Is difficult to tell the colours are so similar, but definitely wasnt nearly as dark as before!

Will test again in the morning and do a larger water change if it's still too high.

Surely this should have showed when I originally overdosed? How come it's taken this long to show itself?

 

[OldMan47]

The only time I expect to see ammonia levels rise without manually adding ammonia is if there is something in the tank or in the filter that is decaying. If the filter has a heavy layer of material on it from before the mini-cycle started, it may be decaying and adding to the ammonia and you would not see anything in the tank decaying.

 

[coldcazzie]

I will have a look but I don't think there is. There's certainly nothing in the tank, all that's in there is the filter and the heater - no gravel, no plants, no ornaments. Will examine the top of the sponge tomorrow to see if there's anything obvious there. Maybe I'm just stupid and read the test wrong repeatedly! Kinda feel like I should throw it all out and start again...

 

[coldcazzie]

Day 7 (30.8.09)
9.45am: Ammonia: close to 8ppm again.
9:50am: 70% water change.
10.50am: Ammonia: 1-2ppm. Not sure I believe it - it seems to take a while for everything to mix and give an accurate reading.
2pm: Ammonia: 2ppm.

 

[OldMan47]

I usually figure that after an hour the water has all mixed fairly well. My filter does move water well in almost all of my tanks so good mixing happens fairly quickly. In an earlier time, when I had almost all air driven filters, that was not the case. In the few that still have air driven filters, I wait longer to test.

 

[coldcazzie]

Yeh it's a air driven one, so that might explain it.

I figure that, if I originally dosed correctly (1.25ml for 4ppm of ammonia) then the additional 7ml would have sent it to around 32ppm. So the 20% change on 27th = 25.6, then another 20% change yesterday = 20.48, then 25% change yesterday = 15.36, then the 70% change today = 4.6.

So now, assuming the original dose was correct, all the water changes *should* now have brought it back to where I was aiming for in the first place.

Right?

 

[OldMan47]

I didn't repeat your math but the idea seems sound to me.

 

[coldcazzie]

heh thanks, let's hope so!

9:20pm: Ammonia: ~4ppm. Will test again in the morning to see if it's still there!

 

[waterdrop]

Good luck!... following along. --wd--

 

[coldcazzie]

Day 8 (31.8.09)
11am: Ammonia: 2-4ppm.
8.10pm: Ammonia: 2-4ppm.

Seems to be stable and not too high (hahaha deja vu anyone?!) - full range of tests on Wed morning I think

 

[OldMan47]

That's looking much better now Cazzie.

 

[coldcazzie]

Day 10 (2.9.09)
12.30pm: Ammonia: 4ppm. Nitrite: 0ppm. Nitrate: 2ppm.

No change.

 

[coldcazzie]

Day 12 (4.9.09)
9:20am: Ammonia: 4ppm. Nitrite: 0ppm. Nitrate: 2ppm. pH: 7.6+

No change again.

 

[Gr44]

I'm sure you will soon cazzie... fingers are crossed for you!!