My "add And Wait" Fishless Cycle Diary :)

[Tropical_Noobie]

Hi Clint, Day 14 is probably too soon to be coming down off the nitrite spike, so we should remain suspicious about what this reduced nitrite reading might ultimately be. It could be that your nitrite is so high that you are getting weird readings. When the nitrite reagent is first dropped in to the test tube of tank water, do the drops turn a dark shiny color (like dark shiny purple, or a weird greenish or grayish?) That can be a way that the test shows that the nitrite level is too high for it to properly measure. And yes, its time to get a nitrate reading in there. Be sure to follow all the shaking instructions for -at least- as long as you are instructed. Its even good to whack the #2 reagent bottle against the edge of a table a few times before the testing process begins. It can get a sediment that sticks in clumps.

~~waterdrop~~

Hi ~~WD~~

Thanks for your reply to my questions,

I did notice that the Nitrite test did have a bit of a dark shiny color to it and I was suspicious as you mentioned as I am only 14 days into my Cycle.

Can I ask should I be testing for NitrAte all the time now or just every now and then? I also appreciate the tip about tapping the 2nd bottle of NitrAte on the side to make sure it has mixed correctly.

Clint.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

MY FISHLESS "ADD & WAIT" CYCLE.

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

Day 6:

Time: 2220 Date:11th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 7:

Time: 2200 Date:12th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0.50 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 8:

Time: 2200 Date:13th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: 0.25 ppm (This was a dodgy test) :stupid:

Nitrate: 5.0 ppm

Day 9:

Time: 2200 Date:14th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 10:

Time: 2200 Date:15th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm (Dropped again)

Nitrite: inbetween 0.25 & 0 ppm Looks Grey to me! (Any comment on this?)

I am now adding 1.8ml Ammonia. (3 ppm) daily

Day 11:

Time: 2200 Date:16th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Day 12:

Time: 2200 Date:17th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 13:

Time: 2200 Date:18th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 14:

Time: 2200 Date:19th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: Between 2.0 & 1.0 ppm (Dodgy reading)

Day 15:

Time: 2200 Date:20th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

NitrAte: 5.0 ppm

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

MY FISHLESS "ADD & WAIT" CYCLE.

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

Day 6:

Time: 2220 Date:11th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 7:

Time: 2200 Date:12th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0.50 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 8:

Time: 2200 Date:13th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: 0.25 ppm (This was a dodgy test) :stupid:

Nitrate: 5.0 ppm

Day 9:

Time: 2200 Date:14th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 10:

Time: 2200 Date:15th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm (Dropped again)

Nitrite: inbetween 0.25 & 0 ppm Looks Grey to me! (Any comment on this?)

I am now adding 1.8ml Ammonia. (3 ppm) daily

Day 11:

Time: 2200 Date:16th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Day 12:

Time: 2200 Date:17th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 13:

Time: 2200 Date:18th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 14:

Time: 2200 Date:19th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: Between 2.0 & 1.0 ppm (Dodgy reading)

Day 15:

Time: 2200 Date:20th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

NitrAte: 5.0 ppm

Day 16:

Time: 2200 Date:21th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Turned blue when dropped in, Then off the scale.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, you only need occasional nitrate(NO3) tests at this point, really just out of curiosity. You really look to be in to the nitrite spike stage now, you've had some repeated days of it. Its good that you dropped your ammonia dosing down to the lower 3ppm or so level now, that will be pumping less nitrogen into the process.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Yes, you only need occasional nitrate(NO3) tests at this point, really just out of curiosity. You really look to be in to the nitrite spike stage now, you've had some repeated days of it. Its good that you dropped your ammonia dosing down to the lower 3ppm or so level now, that will be pumping less nitrogen into the process.

~~waterdrop~~

Cool thanks ~~WD~~ It's just a case of waiting untill I see the 00 Nitrite & Ammonia drop within 24Hrs now then!

I hope all is well with you? I am still off the fags & feeling like s**t and to top it all I have a cold also! (Man flu my wife call's it lol)

Clint.

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, not feeling all that great myself but still dutifully swam my mile at lunch, have to do a little fish behavior in my day...

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Yeah, not feeling all that great myself but still dutifully swam my mile at lunch, have to do a little fish behavior in my day...

Good for you ~~WD~~ I am going to start swimming myself very soon, I am feeling old now Must be all that smoking I have been doing! Starting to Cluck big time now... Talk about Cold Turky but well worth it!

Thanks for dropping by,

speak soon

Clint.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Quite Boring this Diary really lol.

MY FISHLESS "ADD & WAIT" CYCLE.

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

Day 6:

Time: 2220 Date:11th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 7:

Time: 2200 Date:12th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0.50 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 8:

Time: 2200 Date:13th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: 0.25 ppm (This was a dodgy test) :stupid:

Nitrate: 5.0 ppm

Day 9:

Time: 2200 Date:14th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 10:

Time: 2200 Date:15th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm (Dropped again)

Nitrite: inbetween 0.25 & 0 ppm Looks Grey to me! (Any comment on this?)

I am now adding 1.8ml Ammonia. (3 ppm) daily

Day 11:

Time: 2200 Date:16th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Day 12:

Time: 2200 Date:17th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 13:

Time: 2200 Date:18th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 14:

Time: 2200 Date:19th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: Between 2.0 & 1.0 ppm (Dodgy reading)

Day 15:

Time: 2200 Date:20th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

NitrAte: 5.0 ppm

Day 16:

Time: 2200 Date:21th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

Day 17:

Time: 2200 Date:22nd May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

Still waiting!

I think I will drop down a little Ammonia from tomorrow ( Keeping above 2 ppm. Thanks oldman47 )It takes awhile for it to sink in ~~WD~~ Lol.

Clint.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Quite Boring this Diary really lol.

MY FISHLESS "ADD & WAIT" CYCLE.

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

Day 6:

Time: 2220 Date:11th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH high: 8.00 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 7:

Time: 2200 Date:12th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0.50 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 8:

Time: 2200 Date:13th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: 0.25 ppm (This was a dodgy test) :stupid:

Nitrate: 5.0 ppm

Day 9:

Time: 2200 Date:14th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: 5.0 ppm

Day 10:

Time: 2200 Date:15th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm (Dropped again)

Nitrite: inbetween 0.25 & 0 ppm Looks Grey to me! (Any comment on this?)

I am now adding 1.8ml Ammonia. (3 ppm) daily

Day 11:

Time: 2200 Date:16th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Day 12:

Time: 2200 Date:17th May 2010 (Added Mature Media today)

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 13:

Time: 2200 Date:18th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 7.8 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm Off the scale

Day 14:

Time: 2200 Date:19th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: Between 2.0 & 1.0 ppm (Dodgy reading)

Day 15:

Time: 2200 Date:20th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

NitrAte: 5.0 ppm

Day 16:

Time: 2200 Date:21th May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

Day 17:

Time: 2200 Date:22nd May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite: +5 ppm

Day 18:

Time: 2200 Date:23rd May 2010

Temp: 84F/29C

Ammonia: 0 ppm

pH High: 8.0 ppm

Nitrite(No2): 0 ppm went in blue, was still blue after 5 min's !

Nitrate(No3): +160 very bright Red colour.
I am now adding 1.5ml Ammonia. (2.5 ppm) daily

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Hi all,

I decided to do a random Nitrite(No2) test again this morning (11:10) and the results are the same as last night.

I am now getting 0 ppm for Ammonia & 0 ppm for Nitrite(No2) within 12 Hrs

(Am I in the Third phase )

Or could this still be Wacky reading Should I wait a couple more day's before topping my Ammonia back up to 5 ppm, (To make the bacteria strong) Just to make sure!

Clint.

 

[PDSimon]

Your nitrites have gone a bright blue colour? Well if they are 0, start adding 5ppm at your 10 o'clock time and cycle them within 12 hours. Then you can go into your final week of ensuring ammonia and nitrite cycle within 12 hours for 7 days (still only adding 5ppm one a day that is)

 

[waterdrop]

OK Clint, time to start paying attention here I think, we've got some action. I think its your mature media kicking in very nicely! First, your hunch is correct, give it another couple days of proving itself able to keep dropping that nitrite(NO2) down to zero ppm, making the API test come out light blue. That will prove that its just just a fluke. But assuming that its not a fluke, then I have some actions for you...

Since your nitrate(NO3) has started looking like a 160ppm reading, that indicates there was probably a healthy sized Nitrospira population in the mature media and nitrite is getting processed much more quickly. The nitrate(NO3) itself will be an inhibition to further growth of the Nitrospira(N-Bacs) somewhat, so its my feeling that this would be an excellent time for a "clear-out." Do you have a gravel-cleaning-siphon yet? Plan a day when you have some time and do a large water change (will involve turning off the filter and heater) all the way down to the gravel, with deep gravel-cleaning being done as the water goes out. The refill with very roughly temp-matched and conditioned (remember, your colonies are still fragile, so you want dechlorinated/dechloraminated return water!) water up to about the 50% mark and then gravel-clean-siphon it right back out again. This will get at that nitrate(NO3) laden water in the gravel and filter box and help to really get a lot of that 160ppm out of there. Finally, do your conditioned, temp-matched full refill and be sure to re-charge some ammonia (about same as you've been currently dosing) and then let it sit and filter for an hour. After the hour (half-hour.. whatever, if you're busy) log a test battery and based on the ammonia level your test result shows, ease your ammonia level on upward a half or full ppm if you can manage it (ie. if it was 2.0ppm, ease it on up to 2.5ppm or 3ppm, something like that.) Now be aware that these tiny subtleties are kind of silly and not that critical but it just helps me describe how I think about it. Over the next week or week and a half, I'd have you gradually easing the ammonia dosing back up towards 5ppm, the final goal before the qualification week. It may be that NO3 will shoot back up to 160ppm during the week, but don't worry about that too much, we just wanted to get it down once for the start and can think about another water change at some later point.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Twinklecaz]

I am so jealous, that's really quick!

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Edit: ignore last post

 

[PDSimon]

You're moving out? But you've almost finished!