Fishless Cycle

[LardyDad]

Hello TFF
Please can someone advise me on my fishless cycle results and let me know if i'm ready for fish. A novice at this so any advice would be appreciated.

The info is as follows

Fish Tank water testing
Tap water PH = 7.2
20TH August
Tank PH = 7.0
Ammonia = 0 ppm added 32 drops of Ammonia to take tank to 4 ppm

21st August
Ammonia = 4 ppm added plants see what happens!!!

22nd August
Ammonia = 4 ppm

29th August
Ammonia = 0 ppm added 24 drops of Ammonia to take tank to between 2 – 4 ppm
Nitrate = 50 ppm
Nitrite = 5 ppm
PH = 7.5

30TH August
Ammonia = 2 – 4 ppm

1st September
Ammonia = 0 ppm added a little bit of Ammonia to keep things ticking over

2nd September
Carried out a 50% water change as the nitrate and nitrite levels were very high

3rd September
Ammonia = 0.5 ppm
Nitrate = 40 ppm
Nitrite = 5 ppm
PH = 6.4

4th September
Ammonia = 0 - 0.25 ppm
Nitrate = 10 ppm
Nitrite = 5 ppm
PH = 6.4


6th September
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 10 ppm
Nitrite = 1 - 2 ppm
PH = 6.4

Thank you for your help



Added 3 ½ tsp bicarb of soda to raise ph. Now 7.6
Added ammonia level now 4ppm

7th September
Ammonia = 0.5 ppm
Nitrate = 10 ppm
Nitrite = 2 ppm
PH = 7.6

 

[sjolliff]

No
Your ammonia and nitrite needs to be 0 12hrs after adding, then do a week like that to make sure

Also you PH needs bring up as at 6.4 your close to the cycle stalling, you can either do a large water change or use baking soda to bring it up

Tips for bacteria growth temp 29c PH 8-8.4

 

[LardyDad]

No
Your ammonia and nitrite needs to be 0 12hrs after adding, then do a week like that to make sure

Also you PH needs bring up as at 6.4 your close to the cycle stalling, you can either do a large water change or use baking soda to bring it up

Tips for bacteria growth temp 29c PH 8-8.4

Thanks
Ive turned the temp up to 29, is baking soda the same as baking powder or bicarbonate of soda? How do i add to a 64 litre tank or would changing the water be easier?
Do you recommend that I add more ammonia to carry on cycling?

 

[sjolliff]

The ingredients should just be bicarbonate of soda only,

try 1 tspn per 20L of water then wait about an hour and test

you want to add 5 ppm of ammonia until you get 0/0 in 12hrs

 

[OldMan47]

Baking powder is an entirely different product. Baking soda is pure bicarbonate of soda.
You need to add ammonia daily if you want to continue to develop your bacterial colonies. The bacteria need the ammonia to survive and reproduce.

 

[LardyDad]

Baking powder is an entirely different product. Baking soda is pure bicarbonate of soda.
You need to add ammonia daily if you want to continue to develop your bacterial colonies. The bacteria need the ammonia to survive and reproduce.

Thanks everyone, got bicarbonate of soda and added 3 tsp, also added more ammonia and will check the levels in a hour