Fishless Cycle

[Squid]

how long was it before your amonia first dropped??

I added 6 ppm 4 days ago and still no major change its going slowly but i mean SLOWLY

Big Ian,

When i did my fishless cycle, i was thinking the same.. how long is this gonna take at this rate.. but then all of a sudden it changes.. first 4-5 days (cant remember) the ammonia was dropping SLOWLY too, then after about 6-7 it all of a sudden drops right the way down, to the point that i needed to add ammonia every 12 hours.. so dont worry, it will all start to work.

Unfortunately, the nitrites take a while longer. Most people say about twice as long.. mine took even longer due to an odd PH crash. from nearly 8 down to just over 6. So if the ammonia all of a sudden does not seem to cycle as it used to, then check the PH.



Fish-Face.

with those levels of ammonia, like debra, i think you may have a little while to go.. keep with it.. its worth it in the end.

Cheers
Squid

 

[BigIan]

think i`m going to buy a more accurate test kit as the one i have isnt that accurate over 4ppm

i can barely tell if its dropping or not...

does the size of the tank have an effect on how long it takes to cycle?

 

[Squid]

most test kits are tricky over 4.. i couldnt tell either.. so save your money.. unless its a dip strip one. then it might be worth it..

tank size does not seem to make a huge difference...

how big is your tank.. the days i spoke of were on a 180 litre.. which is 47 or so US Gallons

Squid

 

[BigIan]

mine is a 380 litre tank ( forgot what it is in gallons)started it going last friday and as yet no real change in the readings

 

[Squid]

Nice size tank.. like i said though.. by this friday i reckon you will see a bigger change..

How did you calculate how much to add. the only thing that might have happened is that you added too much ammonia, as it is hard to tell.. in this case, i wouldn't worry too much. it might take a little longer, as you have to add more anyway (as long as it was not too much more). you could check to see the if there is any nitrites present, that will be a good indicator of how much the ammonia is being broken down.

Squid

 

[BigIan]

i added 20 ML then tested the water and it was showing up as some where just below 8 on the test chart.

so i left it at that, i tested for nitrates and its showing at less than 0,5ppm

i could well be in for a long wait...

although when i was playing with my air pipe earlier it was all slimey and had what looked like bacterial cultures living in it so maybe this is the start of the bacteria breeding

 

[mark.w.jones]

Forgot to mention with mine that my nitrite readings for 2 solid weeks, every damn day were 2ppm. I thought something had gone wrong or that I was being punished for crimes to fishkind in an earlier life. Then over night the nitrites just went.

 

[BigIan]

Nice size tank.. like i said though.. by this friday i reckon you will see a bigger change..

How did you calculate how much to add. the only thing that might have happened is that you added too much ammonia, as it is hard to tell.. in this case, i wouldn't worry too much. it might take a little longer, as you have to add more anyway (as long as it was not too much more). you could check to see the if there is any nitrites present, that will be a good indicator of how much the ammonia is being broken down.

Squid

My word sir you know your stuff...

today it is friday and my amonia has dropped to some where between 4 and 6 ppm, and i have a nitrite reading of 0.25

Hooray!!!

i`m off to the LFS to buy more plants and some slate as a prize for me