Kez's First Cycle Log

[KezJona]

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.

Should have just added Bicarb Would of been easier

 

[XeroTolerance]

I would have but I dont have any.

 

[KezJona]

Just updated my results for today they are looking fab! Ammonia ia still being ate up within 24 hours and my Nitrites have dropped over night, it's crazy. The value I set is 1.5ppm for Nitrite, mainly because it is smack bang in the middle of both 1 and 2.

I am just wondering whether when I hit double zeros should I then start my 1 week 12 hour testing by adding 4ppm ammonia? Or should I up my dose to 4ppm first, wait till I hit double zero's with 4ppm then start my 1 week test?

I originally dosed 4ppm then dropped to 2ppm when I hit the Nitrite spike.

Kez

 

[XeroTolerance]

Right now my bio-filter can handle 1.5 of ammonia and nitrite in 24 hours.

 

[KezJona]

That's cool We around the same time then which is good! Seems like I am close to the qualifying week, just unsure on how to go about it

 

[XeroTolerance]

Yeah I'm sorry I can't help you. I am cycling my tank so the bio-filter can handle 4ppm in 24 hours. 4ppm in 12 hours is insane and 4ppm in 24 hours is still a beast bio-filter. Plus fish produce waste in a steady stream so it is not like they dump in 4ppm of ammonia in at once.

 

[KezJona]

But isn't the point of the fishless cycle to cycle the tank so you can add your stock in on one go? So by having your tank able to process 4ppm over 12 hours means that the bacteria for the tank is plentiful?

Confused now..

 

[XeroTolerance]

Even if it can handle 4ppm of ammonia in 24 hours that is a pretty bad*** filter if you know where I am getting to. You can still add your full bio-load right away unless if your keeping REALLY messy fish.

 

[KezJona]

Even if it can handle 4ppm of ammonia in 24 hours that is a pretty bad*** filter if you know where I am getting to. You can still add your full bio-load right away unless if your keeping REALLY messy fish.

So I can add my existing fishies (my mate is keeping for me) into the tank right away if I just cycle it on 2ppm of Ammonia?? Sorry, I'm confused now lol.

 

[XeroTolerance]

You could, what fish is it? If your just keeping one fish in it than definitely. I your keeping large fish than go with what your doing. The only reason I'm cycling at 4ppm of ammonia and nitrite in 24 hours is because I'm not stocking with a heavy bio-load. Like I said. If it is only for one fish than sure, but if it is for an Oscar or something like that than do it in 12 hours.

 

[KezJona]

I prefer the tiny fish that only grow a few inches. My mate is currently looking after:

Neon Tetra x 10
Harlequin x 6
Mollies x 2 *
Swordtail x 1 *
Corys x 3 *

All *'s are what fish I want more of, but I also want leeway with more fish in the future. I did a stocking check and from what I have there, I am only stocked 50% for what I can have.

So is it more advisable to just process 4ppm ammonia and nitrite in 24 hours rather than 12?

I'm on my post so I can't edit my post above, sorry! But I also want guppies, like 6-10! Just so you know

 

[XeroTolerance]

If I were you I would do 4ppm of ammonia in 12 hours. I'm not sure if yours would be okay or not.

 

[KezJona]

Cool, tha ka for the advice Xero! I'll wait till I hit double zeros for 2 ppm then move up to 3 then eventually 4. Once I hit my first 4pmm dose and it turns to double zeroes I'll begin my 1 week test!

 

[XeroTolerance]

That sounds like a good plan.

 

[KezJona]

Updated my log, Nitrites are almost at 0! I expect them to be 0 tomorrow