Kez's First Cycle Log

[KezJona]

I do usually follow the instructions as best as I can, just to make sure I have just done them once again and re-read the API Master Tesk Kit manual just to make sure

Here is a picture of my results for today, day 5.

The Nitrite reading turned purple around the minute mark and stayed the same throughout the rest of the 5 minutes. But it did not turn purple immediately after the solution was added. It went through the different colour stages first.

Kez

 

[XeroTolerance]

It looks like your cycle is coming together quite nicely.

 

[KezJona]

Do I need to do anything now in terms of water changes, or leave it and keep redosing to 4-ppm until I reach the Nitrite spike as detailed by Miles?

Kez

 

[Miles_hot]

Well you seem to have arrived at the spike in much the same way we did - a good solid 5ppm+ but not with the full glory I assume that you're not adding any ammonia until the ammonia reading hits zero?
Given that you've got an over abundance of Nitrite now I would suggest that you reduce the ammonia dosing to 2ppm until such time as both the ammonia and nitrite are processed to double zero in 24 hours. We ended up doing a water change fairly soon after we hit this point to bring the Nitrites down to somewhere sensible (as having them much over 5+ inhibits the target bacteria) however your cycle is cracking along at such a pace that I might be tempted to leave it for a short time to see if it manages something on its own...

 

[KezJona]

Well you seem to have arrived at the spike in much the same way we did - a good solid 5ppm+ but not with the full glory I assume that you're not adding any ammonia until the ammonia reading hits zero?
Given that you've got an over abundance of Nitrite now I would suggest that you reduce the ammonia dosing to 2ppm until such time as both the ammonia and nitrite are processed to double zero in 24 hours. We ended up doing a water change fairly soon after we hit this point to bring the Nitrites down to somewhere sensible (as having them much over 5+ inhibits the target bacteria) however your cycle is cracking along at such a pace that I might be tempted to leave it for a short time to see if it manages something on its own...

I have only dosed Ammonia once, and that was at the beginning of the cycle, which is where my concerns were coming from originally as reading other logs people seem to have dosed 3 - 4 times before reaching the stage I am at.

I have updated my test results for today and I am definitely close to the Nitrite spike, I added the solution to the test tube and whilst it didn't turn instantaneously purple, the colour changed rapidly.

I think I will leave the tank for another few days and see what occurs, dosing 2PPM once the Ammonia reaches zero. According to the guide it does take a long time for the Nitrite spike to come down, but a lot of the time it is as if it occurs overnight.

Does it sound like I am doing the right thing?

 

[Miles_hot]

sounds fine In terms of others dosing many times etc just remember that where you and I follow the "add and wait" others top up to 4ppm each time...Just two different approaches to the same issue.

 

[KezJona]

Well I have just tested my tank and.... ALL THE AMMONIA HAS GONE - wooooo! And I believe I have also hit the Nitrite spike! Never saw a colour change so fast

My question now is... shall I dose back to my original 4ppm or just dose 2ppm so the Nitrites can come down?

Kez

P.S: Updated my log as well

 

[KezJona]

Just dosed to 2ppm of Ammonia.

 

[KezJona]

Just updated my log, seems the Nitrates are still lower then a few days ago but no longer showing a 0 reading! Redosed my Ammonia to 2ppm.

How long should I be dosing 2ppm for? Until the Nitrites come down?

 

[KezJona]

Nitrate reading seems to have sorted itself out now! It wasn't quite 160ppm but it was almost reaching the colour so I decided on 120ppm.

I have updated my log now and everything seems to becoming together nicely. I have redosed the Ammonia to 2ppm and it seems to be processing it really well within 24 hours. So just waiting for the Nitrites to reduce and then hopefully can begin my 12 hour tests

So exciting

 

[KezJona]

Just updated my log, seems that the 2ppm of Ammonia is being processed every 24 hours. Still no sign of the Nitrites coming down yet, but the colour is taking longer to change so that is a good sign.

However, my nitrates are acting up again. This time they barely read 5ppm on the scale which is irritating me now. I hit the bottle against a hard surface to see if anything may have been stuck at the bottom of the bottle. Retested twice and still getting a really low result. I was also told to just ignore Nitrates right now, but how will I be able to indicate whether my Nitrite is being processed??

Kez

 

[KezJona]

Well my 2ppm of Ammonia is definitely being ate up within 24 hours which is a good thing, my Nitrites are lowering now as well. Whilst still 5+ ppm (off the scale) the colour of the test is taking a lot longer to change then it used to which is great.

Still looking out for those double zeros though, they seem to be coming a long quickly

 

[XeroTolerance]

Good luck! I seem to be in the same place as you surprisingly. I just started lowing my dose of ammonia to 2ppm because so my nitrite doesn't get too high. Also, did you do a water change wile doing the cycle. Somebody told me that I should do one every 7 days the nitrite is off the scale. Another person told me I don't. I was just wondering what you did.

 

[KezJona]

Good luck! I seem to be in the same place as you surprisingly. I just started lowing my dose of ammonia to 2ppm because so my nitrite doesn't get too high. Also, did you do a water change wile doing the cycle. Somebody told me that I should do one every 7 days the nitrite is off the scale. Another person told me I don't. I was just wondering what you did.

Miles did recommend me doing one but he said at the rate in which my cycle is progressing it may be worth just waiting a few days and see if the Nitrites can lower themselves; and I can definitely see the results. When I put my Nitrite (API) test drops into the test tube it takes a whole lot longer for the dark purple colour to develop than it originally did so I know the results are coming down.

I'd do what Miles suggested to me and just wait it out, see how the Nitrites react on their own. A lot of people have told me to ignore Nitrates but I just like doing the full test right now and have got used to doing it, maybe I just like all the bright colours

Good luck on your cycle.


-----

I also updated my log with todays results. Had to redose Ammonia to 2ppm again as it was 0, the bacteria sure love their food supply As stated above my Nitrites are lowering as well, so still waiting for the double zero mark. Finally can see light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[XeroTolerance]

That's great news! Today my pH went all the way to 6.6 so I had to do a 90% water change to bring it back up. Boy, it's hard work with only a siphon and a 1/2 bucket . Hopefully my Nitrites came down too.