Hows It Going?

[Amy86]

ok here is my fishless cycle so far, ive been doing the add & wait method. not sure why my nitrate is so high when my nitrite has not dropped since the spike?? i have 25ppm in my tap water anyway but not 250 ppm !!! any ideas ??

does all seem to be going well?? predictions on how long i have left

Day 1:
Ammonia- Added 8ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm

Day 2:
Ammonia- 8ppm (None Added)
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm

Day 3:
Ammonia- 8ppm (None Added)
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm

Day 4:
Ammonia- 4ppm (None Added)
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm

Day 5:
Ammonia- 0ppm (Added 4ppm)
Nitrite- 10ppm+
Nitrate- 250ppm+

Day 6:
Ammonia- 0ppm (Added 8ppm)
Nitrite- 10ppm+
Nitrate- 250ppm+

Day 7:
Ammonia- 4ppm (None Added)
Nitrite- 10ppm+
Nitrate- 250ppm+

Day 8:
Ammonia- 0ppm (Added 4ppm)
Nitrite- 10 ppm+
Nitrate- 250ppm+

Day 9:
Ammonia- 0ppm (Added 4ppm)
Nitrite- 10 ppm+
Nitrate- 250ppm+

What do you think ??

 

[Amy86]

i know its really boring but i would appreciate the advise

 

[rdd1952]

Something doesn't seem right. First, I wouldn't expect the nitrite to go that high from only 8 ppm of ammonia (it seemed to disappear pretty quick too for a new cycle). Second, your nitrate definitely shouldn't have gone that high. Most likely, no nitrite is being processed yet as you are too early in the cycling process. Even if nitrite is being processed, that level is way too high for this early. Generally, after a complete fishless cycle that has taken 3 weeks and had 4 ppm of ammonia added every day for that time, the nitrate would only be around 100 to 140. It definitey should not have jumped all the way to 250 from 8 ppm of ammonia.

A couple qquestions: Did you use any typ of seed media from an established tank? Did you use any kind of bacteria starter? What kind of test kit are you using (if it's strips, throw them out and get a good liquid test kit like API's master kit)? The numbers just don't add up for the ength of time you have been cycling.

 

[Amy86]

i have the api ammonia liquid test, but for the nitrite and nitrate im using tetra test 5 in 1 strips. The gravel came with the tank and was still wet but i washed it in hot water before putting it in the tank so i doubt there was any bacteria on it.

and no i didnt use any starter bacteria. just set the temp quite high to try and speed up the process

 

[rdd1952]

I would get a liquid test kit for nitrite and nitrate. I believe the readings you are getting are inaccurate and you possibly don't have any nitrate in your tap water (25 ppm is high and could be unsafe for infants - see here).

 

[Amy86]

ok im gonna get an API master test kit but what shall i do in the mean time?? just keep adding ammonia?? i assume the api ammonia test is correct and that my ammonia bacteria are there and happily munching 4ppm a day ??

 

[rdd1952]

Yes, just keep adding ammonia every time it drops to zero. The nitrites will indeed go off the chart and it usually takes about twice as long for the nitrite to drop as it did the ammonia. With a good nitrate kit, you can keep up with whether the nitrite is being processed. If nitrate is rising then nitrite is being converted.

 

[Amy86]

Day 10:
Ammonia- 0ppm (Added 4ppm)
Nitrite- 10 ppm+
Nitrate- 250ppm+


Ok so a cheque is in the post for an API master test kit. i tested it anyway with the strips and there was no change last nite. i really wish this would hurry up, i really want to get some fish