Okay thanks, I will wait until the ammonia hits zero before adding more. Next question, do I need to wait until the ammonia hits zero before doing the water changes to get the nitrites down or do it now since they are off the charts? My ammonia is reading about 1-2 ppm and nitrites are 5 plus. I didn't know which would be more beneficial to my cycle. If I did do a water change (or multiple) to get the nitrites down and tests show afterwards there's no ammonia and lower nitrites, would I go ahead and redose to the 1-2 ppm it was at before?
Fishless Cycle Questions
- Thread starter Kaybear
- Start date
I don't think it matters either way. If you water change first, just add enough ammonia after the change to give the A-bacs something to munch on. (There really isn't a need to be stingy about your ammonia, other than to regulate the nitrite levels. Ammonia is cheap, and I'm sure you have way more than you will need for your cycle.)
I did a big water change when my ammonia was about 0.25ppm, and when I refilled my tank, the level was still 0.25ppm (that's the level of ammonia in my tap). I didn't dose it then, however because the water change dropped my nitrites to 0.50ppm, and I wanted to wait 12 hours to see if the nitrites were being processed by any N-bacs. They both hit zero by the next morning, so I redosed it then to 2ppm. (I was fortunate though, that 12 hours later, my ammonia was 0.25ppm, and my nitrite was 2ppm.
I was getting somewhere!) Then by the next morning both ammonia and nitrite hit zero and I upped my dose to 3ppm. By the 12 hour mark, my ammonia and nitrite BOTH hit zero. I waited until morning and redosed the ammonia to 4ppm. The ammonia and nitrite didn't quite hit zero in 12 hours, but did by 14.5 hours. I've redosed to 4ppm again this morning, and hope that they will hit zeros by tonight. If so, I am going to up the dose to 5ppm until that goes every 12 hours. After that, I'm not sure what my next step will be... A qualifying week will happen, of course, but something tells me the addition of fish is going to be delayed a few months until my summer travels are finished.
I did a big water change when my ammonia was about 0.25ppm, and when I refilled my tank, the level was still 0.25ppm (that's the level of ammonia in my tap). I didn't dose it then, however because the water change dropped my nitrites to 0.50ppm, and I wanted to wait 12 hours to see if the nitrites were being processed by any N-bacs. They both hit zero by the next morning, so I redosed it then to 2ppm. (I was fortunate though, that 12 hours later, my ammonia was 0.25ppm, and my nitrite was 2ppm.
I was getting somewhere!) Then by the next morning both ammonia and nitrite hit zero and I upped my dose to 3ppm. By the 12 hour mark, my ammonia and nitrite BOTH hit zero. I waited until morning and redosed the ammonia to 4ppm. The ammonia and nitrite didn't quite hit zero in 12 hours, but did by 14.5 hours. I've redosed to 4ppm again this morning, and hope that they will hit zeros by tonight. If so, I am going to up the dose to 5ppm until that goes every 12 hours. After that, I'm not sure what my next step will be... A qualifying week will happen, of course, but something tells me the addition of fish is going to be delayed a few months until my summer travels are finished.Yea, I have plenty of ammonia I just didn't know if I should put it back to the same amount it was before the water change or more. I don't want to end up with an over abundance of nitrites right away since they aren't being processed yet. That was my only concern.
And thanks for the detail info and examples.. very very helpful
And thanks for the detail info and examples.. very very helpful
That's the goal of the forum!
I don't know that your nitrites will drop as quickly as mine did, but if your nitrites are at least on the scale, you can monitor the change and see the progress (as small as it may be sometimes) rather than just getting day after day of the same "off the scale" result for nitrite. At the least it will give you piece of mind as you are waiting that things are moving forward. Otherwise...
It also fits better in line with the nitrospira's preferred concentration, which might accelerate things.
I don't know that your nitrites will drop as quickly as mine did, but if your nitrites are at least on the scale, you can monitor the change and see the progress (as small as it may be sometimes) rather than just getting day after day of the same "off the scale" result for nitrite. At the least it will give you piece of mind as you are waiting that things are moving forward. Otherwise...
It also fits better in line with the nitrospira's preferred concentration, which might accelerate things.
I don't expect them to drop that quickly, I'm just doing the water change to help promote the growth of the nbacs and like you said have a readable starting point. I'm currently waiting for the tank to finish filling, did about an 80% wc. Going to let it run for about an hour and test for ammonia and nitrite to decide what I need to do from there, if anything.
Tested and I now have .25 ppm of ammonia and about .50 ppm of nitrite. I will add some ammonia tomorrow if it's at zero by then. I love seeing different colors other than a darkish green and a deep pink purple 
. I ordered some mopani wood a couple days ago, says it's supposed to be here Monday. That will give me something else to mess with while I'm waiting on the tank to cycle. Now I will have some yellow brown water to look at in a bucket and enjoy changing that water lol
. I ordered some mopani wood a couple days ago, says it's supposed to be here Monday. That will give me something else to mess with while I'm waiting on the tank to cycle. Now I will have some yellow brown water to look at in a bucket and enjoy changing that water lol
Tested and I now have .25 ppm of ammonia and about .50 ppm of nitrite. I will add some ammonia tomorrow if it's at zero by then. I love seeing different colors other than a darkish green and a deep pink purple
Those are the exact numbers I had right before I got my first double zero reading!
Good luck with it.I have nitrates today yay! My ammonia is at 0 again, nitrite staying around .50 and nitrate at about 20. My ammonia isn't hitting zero in 24 hours yet, it did in 48 hours though. I'm happy that my nitrites are staying at .50 even though I have had to dose the tank with ammonia so I know my n bacs are doing well. I just started checking for nitrates today so I may have had some before
Things seem to be moving along! Good stuff! Keep at it.
I didn't think I would have nitrates that fast, that's why I didn't bother checking before. I did today because it was odd that the ammonia I added had been processed but the nitrites didn't go up any. I know to have a fully stocked tank right away it has to be able to process 5ppm of ammonia and have both ammonia and nitrite down to 0 in 12-24 hours. I'm only putting a baby Oscar in my 75, what amount of ammonia would my tank need to process? I'm thinking if I do the 5 ppm that I will end up with a huge die off of bacteria since it will be a pretty small fish starting out. I might be thinking about this the wrong way though so I need some clarification please
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