Fishless Cycling And Ph Dropped

[ebrcknrdg]

It was 7.2 and its just dropped to 6.6 over the last couple of days, what do i do? Im totaly stuck now. Nitrites are off the chart as are nitrates. Ammonia dropping to 0 in less than 12 hours. I know that as pH closer to 6.0, the nitrification process slows and below 6.0, the bacteria stop processing ammonia, so obviously im worried than it will drop even more

 

[xxBarneyxx]

This is normal and is due to your CO2. I doubt it will drop much further (if at all) and if it does drop to much just do a partial water change to bring it back up again.

My tap water has a PH of around 7.6 but it drops down to around 6.8 at the lowest and averages around 7

 

[-germ-]

 

[ebrcknrdg]

This is normal and is due to your CO2. I doubt it will drop much further (if at all) and if it does drop to much just do a partial water change to bring it back up again.

My tap water has a PH of around 7.6 but it drops down to around 6.8 at the lowest and averages around 7

Ah that makes sense, thanx paul. I shall test again in the morning

 

[Dave Spencer]

I can`t remember, but is your tank high light, CO2 and EI ferts? Is the tank full of fast growing, pearling weeds?

I am asking because if so, then your tank didn`t need to be cycled. I started a heavily planted high tech EI tank last December and never saw any measurable ammonia or nitrite at any point, and was adding Otos and shrimp within a week (no fatalities). High tech tanks run with smaller filter bacteria colonies due to competition from the plants which are an excellent form of filtration, so it may be that you are currently adding ammonia to build up a colony of bacteria that will reduce once you stop adding it.

If you are getting nitrite readings, then you will have to wait for the nitrospira to develop, but it is something to consider for the future. I am a big fan of using high tech and I like to think of not having to cycle a tank as big plus for this system.

This was my first tank, so it was not as if I was experienced in any way.

Of course, if your answer to the first two questions is no, ignore me and I will go away.

Dave.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that all three of my tanks run at a pH of around 6, but my fish tell me that there is nothing wrong with the nitrogen cycle in my tanks. If you want optimal nitrification, I think you need to have a pH of around 8 - 8.5 and a temperature of 35 degrees C, but the tank parameters we run to keep our fish still allow sufficient nitrification to occur.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

I can`t remember, but is your tank high light, CO2 and EI ferts? Is the tank full of fast growing, pearling weeds?

I am asking because if so, then your tank didn`t need to be cycled. I started a heavily planted high tech EI tank last December and never saw any measurable ammonia or nitrite at any point, and was adding Otos and shrimp within a week (no fatalities). High tech tanks run with smaller filter bacteria colonies due to competition from the plants which are an excellent form of filtration, so it may be that you are currently adding ammonia to build up a colony of bacteria that will reduce once you stop adding it.

If you are getting nitrite readings, then you will have to wait for the nitrospira to develop, but it is something to consider for the future. I am a big fan of using high tech and I like to think of not having to cycle a tank as big plus for this system.

This was my first tank, so it was not as if I was experienced in any way.

Of course, if your answer to the first two questions is no, ignore me and I will go away.

Dave.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that all three of my tanks run at a pH of around 6, but my fish tell me that there is nothing wrong with the nitrogen cycle in my tanks. If you want optimal nitrification, I think you need to have a pH of around 8 - 8.5 and a temperature of 35 degrees C, but the tank parameters we run to keep our fish still allow sufficient nitrification to occur.

Hi Dave,

I have upgraded lights to 2.2WPG but arent using them all yet. The reason is because i want to get cycling out the way first. So currently im using 1.7WPG, co2 and just doing liquid ferts for now. Am going to dose EI once all lighting is in use. I dont have loads of plants, i will be filling the tank after cycling. Id say im about 1/2 covered with weeds.

If i knew about heavily planting from the start i would have done this. It would have been easier as ive been cycling now for 3 weeks. As i said though i think im nearly there, nitrites and nitrates are off the chart.

Dave whats nitrospira, is it a fancy word for something else?

 

[Dave Spencer]

Dave whats nitrospira, is it a fancy word for something else?

Nitrospira is the bacteria in your filter that oxidises nitrites (NO2) in to nitrates (NO3). Most of what you will read about the nitrogen cycle claims that it is nitrobacter, but it is actually now believed to be nitrospira that does this.

Dave.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Dave whats nitrospira, is it a fancy word for something else?

Nitrospira is the bacteria in your filter that oxidises nitrites (NO2) in to nitrates (NO3). Most of what you will read about the nitrogen cycle claims that it is nitrobacter, but it is actually now believed to be nitrospira that does this.

Dave.

Ah knowledgeable as ever!

 

[nry]

If your nitrAtes have risen from the value of your tapwater then the nitrospira must be growing OK - I found that nitrItes took a lot longer to go than ammonia.