Help!

[rabbut]

Nitrate will not be caursing any problems at the level it is at. Nitrate will only caurse problems above 50ppm, and thats in the long-tearm.

When you emptied your filter, did you empty your tank too? If so, when and how did you fill the filter and the tank. i.e. Did you fill the tanks water with tap water, then condition, then re-connect the filter, or re-fill, reconnect, then condition, or add conditioned water then re-connect. Also, was the filter re-filled from the tank? It is crucial for me to know the exact sequence of events on the day the mature media was introduced to the tank.

let me know a.s.a.p.

rabbut

 

[GRJ]

Nitrate will not be caursing any problems at the level it is at. Nitrate will only caurse problems above 50ppm, and thats in the long-tearm.

When you emptied your filter, did you empty your tank too? If so, when and how did you fill the filter and the tank. i.e. Did you fill the tanks water with tap water, then condition, then re-connect the filter, or re-fill, reconnect, then condition, or add conditioned water then re-connect. Also, was the filter re-filled from the tank? It is crucial for me to know the exact sequence of events on the day the mature media was introduced to the tank.

let me know a.s.a.p.

rabbut

When i emptied the filter, i shut the autostop valve off and disconnected it, then i took the filter to the drain and emptied it. I took it back and connected it all back up and pumped thre prime button so that the filter filled with water from the 'tank' and switched it on. When i innitially set the tank up, i filled it with tap water but didnt dechlorinate it as it was going to be running for week without fish. Any water changes that have taken place have ben done using 10ltr buckets and the buckets of water have been dechlorinated using Stress Coat. I didnt empty the tank and havent done so since setting it up. The water changes have always been 15-25% untill the 2 50% water changes i did today. Does that help? GRJ

 

[rabbut]

It helps eliminate one possibility, yes, but it still has not solved the problem. I am lost on ideas as to why your filters have not started to mature yet.
Pacience is the key at this stage though. The bactiria introduced will eventualy do their job, and start breaking down the ammonia and nitrite. Untill then, its regular large water changes I'm afraid. If you are still in this position in a few weeks time, try again to source some more mature media. It might also be worth taking a water samle to your lfs, to ensure your test kits are not playing up. While you are there, you could be cheaky, and ask them for some mature media They might not give you any though . Still, its worth a try........

Sorry I can't be of any more use

Rabbut.

 

[GRJ]

It helps eliminate one possibility, yes, but it still has not solved the problem. I am lost on ideas as to why your filters have not started to mature yet.
Pacience is the key at this stage though. The bactiria introduced will eventualy do their job, and start breaking down the ammonia and nitrite. Untill then, its regular large water changes I'm afraid. If you are still in this position in a few weeks time, try again to source some more mature media. It might also be worth taking a water samle to your lfs, to ensure your test kits are not playing up. While you are there, you could be cheaky, and ask them for some mature media They might not give you any though . Still, its worth a try........

Sorry I can't be of any more use

Rabbut.

So, what your saying is, it just taking a while for my bacteria to grow and i should just keep doing large water changes and eventually the nitrite will kick in? What kind of large water change should i be doing? 40% once a day or more? Thanks. GRJ

 

[rabbut]

In essence yes. Your bactiria are just taking a while to kick in. Eventualy you will get nitrite spiking again. As regards to water changes, you need to be doing as many as is needed to keep ammonia, and nitrite when it comes, below 0.25ppm. I would start with 50% a day, and guage from there whether it is too much, or too little. Personaly, I would do a change every time my test kit showed ammonia or nitrite on or above 0.25ppm. This may mean 50%, several times a day.
The cycle process is very unpredictable, so the volume and frequency of water changes will vary from day to day. Right now, your priority is getting the ammonia down. Once down, you are going to have to fight to keep it down. This will be very flustrating, but the end result will be very rewarding. Stick with it, and eventualy, it will sort itself out.

Hope this clears things up. Any further question, post again. If you are still having trouble in a few weeks time (three or more weeks without nitrite spike) start another post if you are unable to source more mature media. PM me if you have to do this, and I'll try my hardest to help where I can

regards and good luck

Rabbut

 

[GRJ]

In essence yes. Your bactiria are just taking a while to kick in. Eventualy you will get nitrite spiking again. As regards to water changes, you need to be doing as many as is needed to keep ammonia, and nitrite when it comes, below 0.25ppm. I would start with 50% a day, and guage from there whether it is too much, or too little. Personaly, I would do a change every time my test kit showed ammonia or nitrite on or above 0.25ppm. This may mean 50%, several times a day.
The cycle process is very unpredictable, so the volume and frequency of water changes will vary from day to day. Right now, your priority is getting the ammonia down. Once down, you are going to have to fight to keep it down. This will be very flustrating, but the end result will be very rewarding. Stick with it, and eventualy, it will sort itself out.

Hope this clears things up. Any further question, post again. If you are still having trouble in a few weeks time (three or more weeks without nitrite spike) start another post if you are unable to source more mature media. PM me if you have to do this, and I'll try my hardest to help where I can

regards and good luck

Rabbut

Thanks very much, you have been a great help and i will keep you updated on this thread or just start a new thread. Once again, thanks for everything.GRJ