Fishless Cycling Question

[scubadoo]

I am currently on day 13 of my fishless cycle.
The tank is a Juwel Trigon 190 l corner unit with the standard juwel filter system.

Generally its all going very well.
I'm using the add & wait method.

I now have enough bacteria to get my ammonia readings down from 5ppm to 0 in about 18 hours, so hopefully not too long to go there.

My nitrites have been rising nicely for 3 or 4 days, but last night my nitrites were down from over 5ppm to 0.5ppm - so all well and good BUT

I dont seem to be registering any nitrates - only about 5ppm (which is the same as my tap water).

So could the green Nitrate sponge in my filter be reducing the levels, cos I'd expect them to be rising if my nitrite readings are dropping?

If so, should I take the nitrate sponge out while cycling?

or just carry on anyway and see if my ammonia and nitite readings steady at 0 after adding the ammonia?

thanks

scuba

 

[scubadoo]

bump

 

[scubadoo]

Bump Bump

 

[l337dave]

Bump Bump

I'd prolly leave it in seeing as you are going to do the big water change at the end anyway. I'd maybe ask this in the pinned cycling thread at the top tho: rd is very knowledgeable about such things


dave.

 

[scubadoo]

Thanks for that

I've now left a post in rd's thread too.

My ammonia and nitrite levels are now getting down to 0 in under 15 hours, but my nitrates are still low - about 5ppm.

I'm guessing that a combination of the green nitrate sponge and the live plants are keeping the nitrate values low.

 

[dizzied]

I had a similiar experience recently with a fishless cycle, and it turned out that I wasn't finished but that the nirites were so high that the test kit could not read it correctly.

 

[scubadoo]

I had a similiar experience recently with a fishless cycle, and it turned out that I wasn't finished but that the nirites were so high that the test kit could not read it correctly.

Hmmm how are you supposed to deal with that!
What use is a kit which wont tell you if its high or not!

For the last couple of days my ammonia and nitrite readings have been down to 0, but my nitrates are still only around 5 ppm.

As I said, there are 3 decent sized amazon swords (e. bleheri) and this green filter which may be reducing the nitrate load, but I would have expected readings higher than those I've had.

anybody else have an opinion ?

 

[MHunt]

To be honest, it sounds like your tank is about cycled. If your test kit is showing the lowest levels for ammonia and nitrite, then you're probably going to be ok. If the nitrate is being absorbed by your green filter then you're going to get low readings. I have a normal filter sponge in my 60l tank, and the nitrates have never increased that quickly. I also have some plants in there that will be absorbing some nitrates too.

Just start with a few hardy fish and give it another week of testing. You probably won't notice a marked increase in any of the levels for a tank of your size until you stock more heavily.

Have fun and enjoy your new aquarium.

 

[scubadoo]

Ok thanks for that.

I think I'll keep adding the ammonia for the rest of this week to monitor the situation, then off to the shop next weekend to stock up.

I am intending to pretty much fully stock the tank in one go - partly to get the fish in, but also to make sure that the beneficial bacteria developed by my fishless cycle dont die back if there'e only a few fish in there contributing to the waste load.

I think I should be OK to do this theory ?

 

[MHunt]

You sound like you're doing things the right way. I was impatient with my tank and cycled with my 5 guppies. Didn't appear to harm them in any way though despite some pretty nasty nitrite readings of around 4 at one stage.

 

[scubadoo]

WOOO HOOOO !

My nitrates have gone up tonight - about 20ppm, but ammonia & nitrite still 0.

Looks as if I'm almost done !

Will keep adding the ammonia til the weekend, then big water change and go get some fish !

 

[mark.w.jones]

Hmmm how are you supposed to deal with that!
What use is a kit which wont tell you if its high or not!

You add 50% tank water and 50% dechlorinated tap water to your test tube. Do your test and then double the result.

 

[scubadoo]

You add 50% tank water and 50% dechlorinated tap water to your test tube. Do your test and then double the result.

now thats pretty clever - would never have thought of that

thanks