Fishless Cyclin

[steve_b21]

Seems fine. It's just a case of waiting for those nitrite eating bacteria to multiply. Those often are a bit slower than the ammonia eating bacteria. You should find that once it actually starts to come down, it will do so reasonably quickly.

Keep your chin up and stick at it. It won't be too long.

As its taken nearly 4 weeks for the ammonia to start gettin processed, am i looking about the same time or even more for the nitrite?

Also when doin a test for NITRATE using an API Wwater Test kit, it sais wait for 5 mins before matchin color. Nitrate comes at about 10, but If i leave it for another hour or so it changes color even more... to about 40.

 

[backtotropical]

Also when doin a test for NITRATE using an API Wwater Test kit, it sais wait for 5 mins before matchin color. Nitrate comes at about 10, but If i leave it for another hour or so it changes color even more... to about 40.

Yeah, i don't know the science behind it, but i think that's right. Thats why it says to wait 5 mins, not 50 mins etc.

Maybe Bignose or someone could give us the science low-down?

Cheers

 

[steve_b21]

Ive put too much ammonia in. Reading about 8. Is it ok to just leave it till the nitrites kill it off? or will it effect the cyclin process?

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Steve,

Do a water change to bring it down to 5ppm. 8ppm might kill your filter bacteria.

BTT

 

[steve_b21]

Not sure how i could have put too much in, but i must have.

I done a 50% water change, tested for ammonia and it was still very high, just done another 50% change and its still readin about 6-8ish

 

[backtotropical]

Sounds like your test kit is playing tricks on you. If it was 8 and you done a 50 % water change it has to be 4.

How old is your test kit, and are you sure you are using it correctly?

I know that sounds stupid, but your results don't seem to add up.

 

[steve_b21]

Sounds like your test kit is playing tricks on you. If it was 8 and you done a 50 % water change it has to be 4.

How old is your test kit, and are you sure you are using it correctly?

I know that sounds stupid, but your results don't seem to add up.

Thats what i was thinkin, something doesnt seem right. Its the same test kit im been using since i started the cyclin off. Been ok up to now. 8 drops of each, its the API Freshwater kit. The kit only measures up to 8, maybe it was more than 8 the first time around? apart from that only thing i can think of is that the ammonia 1 and 2 bottles are nearly finished....

 

[steve_b21]

Hi, i started my cycle off on the 24 October 2007..... last month or so my ammonia is getting processed in less than 24 hrs, but my nitrites are still off the chart!.... nitrates still have not started to develop. This is taking agessssssssssss

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Steve,

Happy new year to you.

Sounds like your cycle has stalled. Try a 50% water change, then test your levels. What is your PH?

 

[steve_b21]

Happy New Year to you aswell my friend.

I did near enough a 80% water change on the 14th dec (due to addin too much ammonia)

Currently about 5 Ammonia gets processed well within 24hrs.... but every time i check the Nitrites... the water goes purple at the bottom which indicates nitrites are off the chart. Its been like this for over 4 weeks now.

Remember it initially took about 5/6 weeks for the ammonia to start getting processed.

I will check the PH shortly.....

 

[steve_b21]

Reading Results...

Ammonia 5 (was 0, topped up to 5)
Nitrite 5+ (off the chart)
Nitrate 5 (Been like this for weeks)
pH 7

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Steve,

PH seems fine. I thought it may have dropped and stalled your cycle. I see no reason why the cycle shouldn't be progressing. Maybe you should do water changes until you have nitrite at a level which your test kit can measure and then see how it goes from there. Don't forget to keep topping up ammonia.

Let us know how it goes.

All the best for 2008.

BTT

 

[steve_b21]

FINALLY, after 12 weeks! i tink im nearly cycled

How does this look...

 

[backtotropical]

Nearly there Steve. As soon as the nitrite hits 0, you're off to buy some fishes.

 

[steve_b21]

Im assuming that they will drop anyday now, i wont have tim to get some fish until the weekend, so can i just carry on adding ammonia till then? and do a full water change on the morning i go and get my fish?

Also, as i mentioned earlier, its taken over 12 weeks to cycle. One thing i was worried about was that i didnt think the tank was getting enough air, so what i did was to place the filter on the water border line so it created more water movement. Seems to have done the trick.