My Cycle

[electropunk06]

Hi got my new tank on friday, its a juwel rio 300 (350L) with the juwel bioflow filter and 1000 pump. this is my 4th tank and but i dont have much spare filter media. i got the water in the tank on saturday and PH was 6.6.
added 100ml of nutrafin cycle (i know its pretty useless but got it free a few months ago so thought might as well use it)
I then added 15ml of ammonia (think it was too much as it is reading off the scale)

ammonia: 8ppm
nitrite: n/a
nitrate: n/a
PH: 6.6

 

[Gvilleguy]

Isn't too much ammonia not good for the cycle? You might want to water change to dilute the level if it's off the chart.

 

[doresy]

Hi got my new tank on friday, its a juwel rio 300 (350L) with the juwel bioflow filter and 1000 pump. this is my 4th tank and but i dont have much spare filter media. i got the water in the tank on saturday and PH was 6.6.
added 100ml of nutrafin cycle (i know its pretty useless but got it free a few months ago so thought might as well use it)
I then added 15ml of ammonia (think it was too much as it is reading off the scale)

ammonia: 8ppm
nitrite: n/a
nitrate: n/a
PH: 6.6

Hi, a ph of 6.6 is a bit low and may hinder your cycle. Is 6.6 the level of your water straight from the tap?

Also, what do you have in the tank (any bog wood for instance?)

The reason your ammonia is off the scale is probably due to the Nurafin Cycle as it contains ammonia (I think). The dose of ammonia that you put in should be just right. I would suggest you try a 50% water change then retest. Anything over 5-6ppm will stop the cycle from starting.

Finally, if you have 3 other tanks then you must be able to exchange a small piece of media from each of them to help kick start your new filter. Anything is a lot better than nothing.

Hope this helps (if indeed help is what you seek...)

 

[electropunk06]

Hi, 6.6 is the tap water level, i am getting some coral sand soon (maybe) so that will help bring it up.
The tank is completely empty.
I have put a fluval U2 in the tank now which is fully cycled so it should help.
Will get on with the water change soon.
Trying to get the temp up to 26-28, i have the juwe 300W heater and an elite 100W at the min its just below 23 but was higher earlier.
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[doresy]

Hi, 6.6 is the tap water level, i am getting some coral sand soon (maybe) so that will help bring it up.
The tank is completely empty.
I have put a fluval U2 in the tank now which is fully cycled so it should help.
Will get on with the water change soon.
Trying to get the temp up to 26-28, i have the juwe 300W heater and an elite 100W at the min its just below 23 but was higher earlier.
Thanks
Lloyd

Diluting that ammonia must be a priority then raising the temp will certainly help. If your finished tank is going to have coral sand then get that in asap too.

I am a little confused, if the cycled Fluval U2 is spare then get that media into your main filter. or at least some of it.

 

[electropunk06]

Thanks, will the fact the filter is in the same tank as the main filter not help? or should it be in the main filter?
Thank you
Lloyd

 

[doresy]

Thanks, will the fact the filter is in the same tank as the main filter not help? or should it be in the main filter?
Thank you
Lloyd

Well the bacteria is meant to transfer (cloning?) but look at it this way.......if you have a cycled filter in a tank of food (ammonia) then it will do all the work. If there is more food than the bacteria in you filter can process then more bacteria will form in the new filter.....eventually. However, if the media containing the bacteria is touching the new media in the filter then the bacteria will multiply quickly into the new space.

 

[electropunk06]

Yeah your right just wasnt thinking.
I have moved most of the media across now so will hopefully give me a good start.
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[doresy]

Yeah your right just wasnt thinking.
I have moved most of the media across now so will hopefully give me a good start.
Thanks
Lloyd

Just get that ammonia down to 4-5ppm and keep it there......big tanks are a cinch to cycle especially with a load of matured media, just follow the rules and be patient

 

[electropunk06]

Hi thanks, y ammonia was only 4ppm (i used the same container to add amonia and take out water to be tested without washing it )
the Temp is at 25 but would like it to be higher.
this morning at about 7:15 there was 4ppm.

test on 1/2/2011 at 4:30pm
ammonia: 4ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: n/a
PH: 6.6

im not getting coral sand any more as i am going for a discus set up. is there a way to increase the PH temporarily?
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[Gvilleguy]

Yes - baking soda - in the USA we use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda - in the UK I believe they call it sodium of bicarbonate, but I'm not 100% on that. A small amount can increase the pH in the water. This is safe for fish less cycles.

 

[electropunk06]

OK thanks i'll make a note of that. i won't use it straight away but if the cycle takes to long or keeps slowing down i might invest in some.
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[electropunk06]

Hi still no drrop in ammonia

test on 2/2/2011 at 5:45pm
ammonia: 4ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: n/a
PH: 6.6

 

[Gvilleguy]

I think you should try to raise your pH a bit up into the 8.0 to 8.4 range. That can make a big difference. Also a temp of 29C would be helpful. Those are optimal settings for growing the ammonia-eating critters.

 

[electropunk06]

Hi
I've been testing every day but still no change on ammonia, think i'm going to have to get the PH up.
The temp is at 26 but my juwel heater is set to 32 and doesn't get it hot enough so i've bought a rena 300W to help.
Still not added any substrate ect but will be looking next week.
Thanks for the help
Lloyd