My "add And Wait" Fishless Cycle Diary :)

[Tropical_Noobie]

Hi noobie, why are you testing in every 12 hours? the first stage is just 24 hour tests generally...

The next stage is the nitrite spike, where nitrites will go off the scale. this is just 24 hour testing too with the addition of 3ppm of ammonia everyday(rather than 4ppm like you have been adding). Assuming that the ammonia level drops to 0 within 24 hours.

Just to varify the first stage is over when 4ppm of ammonia is cycled within 24 hours.

Second stage is over when nitrite is processed within 24 hours

third stage is when ammonia and nitrites are both processed within 12 hours

Hi Si, Thanks for popping in!

If you have look at my post you will see that the Ammonia level is dropping within 12 Hrs, I am following rdd1952 fishless cycle!

Quote: Test daily to see what the ammonia reading is. There is no use to test for anything else. Nitrite and nitrate won't be present until some ammonia has processed. Ammonia will raise your pH so no use to test it either. Once you see a drop in the ammonia, test for nitrite. There should be some present. When the ammonia drops back to about near zero (usually takes about a week), add enough to raise it back to about 3 to 4 ppm and begin testing the nitrite daily.

Every time the ammonia drops back to zero, raise it back up to 3 to 4 ppm and continue to check nitrites. The nitrite reading will go off the chart. NOTE FOR API TEST KIT USERS: When you add the drops, if they immediately turn purple in the bottom of the tube,

I cannot see what I am doing wrong?

Please advise?

Clint.

 

[PDSimon]

It's not wrong as such, it just isn't necessary that you test every 12 hours at this stage. As you can see your ammonia will be processing completely within 24 hours when you test it tonight at 10! thats stage one over, then tomorrow is the nitrite spike stage where nitrites will be well well over 5ppm!

He said "test daily" not twice daily. It says on your log that you tested last night and this morning which like I said you don't need to do. You're past the part you're quoting because nitrites are appearing! and not only are the nitrites appearing, they're going to go off the chart if they aren't already - assuming the highest number on your test is 5ppm (as it is with mine).

When he says bring the ammonia back up to 4 he doesn't mean whenever you test(from what i've read), you should only add the ammonia at a fixed hour which at the moment is 10pm normally for you

Not a big deal, it's just how i've been advised by waterdrop and others

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Si for clearing that up for me, I normaly have ~~waterdrop~~ pass by every night and advise me on my progress.

(He must of been busy last night! i'll have to pull him up on that lol)

I did't read rdd1952 instructions correctly I am a bit dyslexic in my defence :stupid: lol.

Thanks again Si for pointing this out to me.

Clint.

 

[PDSimon]

No worries, I'm not the best at explaining things either, I swear i'm borderline dyslexic.

I basically repeat everything waterdrop says anyway

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Your right I think~~waterdrop~~ knows his Onions!

I have to check almost everything I type with Google must be somthing they put in the water lol.

So going back to my mess up this morning, What would you suggest I do this everning (2200) after testing. I should imagine my Ammonia level will still be up! But if it is not I take it I should re-top up again?

Clint.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Day 1:

Time: 2200 Date:6th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 4.0 ppm

Day 2:

Time: 2200 Date:7th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 4.0 ppm

pH: "off the scale"

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Day 3:

Time: 2200 Date:8th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 4.0 ppm

pH: "off the scale"

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Day 4:

Time: 2200 Date:9th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0.25 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Nitrate: 5.0 ppm

Day 5:

Time: 2200 Date:10th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 4.0 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Ammonia up again!

Day 6:

Time: 2220 Date:11th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Re-topping up ammoina to 4 ppm (Looks like I should start testing for Ammonia every 12 Hrs now?)

Day 7:

Time: 0900 Date:12th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 1.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Re-Testing again!

Time: 2200

Ammonia: 0.50 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Can anyone advise me what I should be doing now? Should I wait untill tomorrow 2200Hrs before topping up my Ammonia? I'm Lost!

Clint.

 

[PDSimon]

that is odd, it seems that your tank cycled 3ppm in 11 hours and then the next 13 hours it only cycled 0.5ppm! Maybe your testing went a bit wrong or something?

You can top up by 3.5ppm. If all the ammonia cycles by the same time tomorrow start adding 3ppm

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

that is odd, it seems that your tank cycled 3ppm in 11 hours and then the next 13 hours it only cycled 0.5ppm! Maybe your testing went a bit wrong or something?

You can top up by 3.5ppm. If all the ammonia cycles by the same time tomorrow start adding 3ppm

So I should now top up 3.5 ppm? If the answer is yes how much Ammonia ml (as I use a syringe) should I add ?

When you say "If all the ammonia cycles by the same time tomorrow start adding 3ppm" I take it you mean at 2200

Sorry to be so thick!

Clint.

 

[fishy55]

As I understand it, you have a designated hour in each 24 hour period when you top up the ammonia to 3-5ppm, but only do this if the previous dose has dropped to nil or close to nil. Obviously it is up to you how ofter you test, I would say go onto 12 hour tests once you ammonia is 0 at the 24 hour test.

If you test 12 hours after adding ammonia and it is nil, don't add more then but leave it until the add time, which is 24 hours after you last added it. In your case if you added ammonia at 22:000 yesterday and today at 22:00 the ammonia reading is nil, add more.

Hope that helps

Fishy55.

 

[PDSimon]

fishy is right

Yes you can top up now by 3.5ml (you've been topping up by 4, right?). I use a syringe too, just use the calculator on the beginners section in this forum? How did you work out what 4ppm was without knowing that?

I do mean 22.00



calc

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

K just added 2.5ml of Ammonia!

I got 4 ppm (showing on the master test kit in the beginning) when I added 3ml of Ammonia as my tank holds 57 litres of water including gravel and filter container

I am unsure if 2.5ml will bring me back up to 4 ppm Could you advise? Maths have never been my strong point.

 

[PDSimon]

assuming your ammonia is 9.5% ammonia and the rest water

2.4 is 4ppm
2.1 is 3.5

3ml should bring you to 5ppm not 4 so unsure what happened at the beginning.

If I was to do it, i'd have put 2.1ml in but if you're correct in that 3ml=4ppm (rather than 2.4ml) then add extra (you'll have to work that out )

its probably around 2.5ml like you've added anyway...check in 20 minutes if your fussed

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Cool thanks Si I'll check again shortly and post it on here for a reference!

I must admit this is now starting to get hard work for me lol. I have just given up smooking also which is a nightmare so thing can only get worse before they get better. God I could do with a smoke now!!!

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

I have just tested Ammonia again and it's 4.0 ppm So thing are looking ok I belive

 

[PDSimon]

perfect!

Best of luck with giving up smoking.

Cyclings a breeze once you've got your head around it I'm still cycling my tank, day 37 I think