My Fishless Cycling Readings (update)

[Rubyuk]

Hi everyone.

Wanted to update you on my latest readings to double check that things are going ok or not as the case maybe?


My tap tests done weeks before I even got my tank are (Nutrifin mini master kit)

Ph: 6.5
Ammonia: Zero (may have been a slight trace,hard to interprate the colour chart)
Gh: 80ppm
Kh: 30ppm
Nitrites: 0
Nitrate: 0

On setting tank up with dorset pea gravel,carrib sea eco planting substrate,a piece of washed mopani wood,washed fake/resin cave,some artificial plants and some live plants

Ph: 7.0 to 7.5 (again hard to read the subtle differences in the colour chart)
Gh: 80ppm
Kh: 50ppm (increased from 30ppm)

Added my source of ammonia to give reading of 4.9 1 hr later (start of cycle)

I have the daily readings from there on although not for every test.

Day 2:
Ammonia: maybe next colour band down ie 2.4 to 4.9?

Day3:
Ammonia no change
Ph: 8.0
Kh: 70ppm

Day4:
Ammonia 1.2

Day5:
Ammonia: 1.2

Day6:
Ammonia: 1.2
Ph: 8.0

Day7:
Ammonia: still 1.2
Ph: 8.0
Kh; 70ppm
Nitrites: 0

Day8:
Ammonia: still 1.2

Day 9:
Ammonia: still 1.2

Day 10
Ammonia: still 1.2
Ph: 8.0
Kh: 80ppm
Gh: 120ppm
Nitrite: 0.1 (first positive trace for this)

Day 11

Ammonia still 1.2
Nitrite still 0.1

Added 5ml of ammonia and 1hr later ammonia reading upto 4.9

Day 12

Ammonia possibly still 4.9,possibly down into 2.4 zone (its so difficult to tell these two orange bands apart on my test kit readings)

Nitrite 0.3

Ph 8.0 ish

Day 13 (today)

Ammonia same as yesterday,maybe 2.4,maybe 4.9

Nitrite same at 0.3

As a newbie I've no idea if this is good,on course,weird or need to take any drastic action??

Any thoughts/help much appreciated

 

[waterdrop]

Well, this looks to be on course to me. It often takes a couple weeks, and you're about to hit day 14, for the A-Bacs to start to do anything much. Now you've seen a trace of nitrite and perhaps it won't be too much longer before you start to see some more recognizable drops in ammonia, and a few more small glimpses of nitrite that the fledgling A-Bacs are producing.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Rubyuk]

Well, this looks to be on course to me. It often takes a couple weeks, and you're about to hit day 14, for the A-Bacs to start to do anything much. Now you've seen a trace of nitrite and perhaps it won't be too much longer before you start to see some more recognizable drops in ammonia, and a few more small glimpses of nitrite that the fledgling A-Bacs are producing.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks waterdrop

 

[Rubyuk]

HI all

Just thought I'd update you on my readings (nothing happening really)

Day 14

Ammonia same at somewhere between 2.4 to 2.9

Nitrite same at about 0.3

Day 15

Same as above

Day 16 (today 30/1/09)

Same as above

If anything the last two days the nitrite reading could be nearer 0.1

Don't know what all this means...bit frustrated that no real lowering in ammonia levels sincing topping up on day 11

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Ruby,

Sorry if this was covered in other threads and I've forgotten but remind us again of your tank volume and what type of filter you're running (both general type internal, HOB or external cannister, and what brand/model.) Did you discuss your filter media with the members before beginning? There's no chance you've got Zeolite (a pebble-like substance usually white or cream colored) in there?

If you have cartridges, it would be helpful to know what's in them.

Also, what temperature are you running your bacterial growth at?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Rubyuk]

Hi Ruby,

Sorry if this was covered in other threads and I've forgotten but remind us again of your tank volume and what type of filter you're running (both general type internal, HOB or external cannister, and what brand/model.) Did you discuss your filter media with the members before beginning? There's no chance you've got Zeolite (a pebble-like substance usually white or cream colored) in there?

If you have cartridges, it would be helpful to know what's in them.

Also, what temperature are you running your bacterial growth at?

~~waterdrop~~

Hi Waterdrop

Its a Jewel 180 vision tank.Length 92cm x 41cm width x 55cm height.

I'm not sure of the differences between the different filters you mention but mine is the Juwel Internal one that comes standard with the tank.Its the one that houses both the media cartridges and the heater.

I definately have no Zeolite (whatever that is in the filter)

Theres the green nitrate sponge,blue coarse sponges and fine blue sponge,carbon sponge,cirax and the 3 white filter pads.

I have the temp at about 82 (the dial on the heater is as far as I can tell as high as it will go) Its saying about 82 on the thermometer I have on the inside of the tank (the internal glass type with the sucker cup)

As I think you know I have dorset pea gravel and a layer of carrib sea eco planting substrate underneath,mixture of live and plastic plants and 1 piece mopani wood

Sorry if the answers are vague

 

[waterdrop]

As far as I know there should be nothing about the standard issue Juwel internal filter that will cause a problem with the fishless cycle. The green nitrate sponge is a little unusual but I think I remember the other members feeling this filter would be ok as is. Perhaps some of the other regulars or members who have this filter will come along and comment. There was another beginner recently that went ahead and changed out the nitrate and carbon portions and replaced them with more of the blue sponges I believe. I still think the startup of your fishless cycle might be slow, but it won't hurt to have this out there in case someone remembers something else about the Juwel that I don't.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Yeah i wouldn't recommend anyone goes out and spends money on nitrate removal sponges but they're fine in that they won't mess up the cycle or anything.

pH hasn't crashed has it?

 

[Rubyuk]

Yeah i wouldn't recommend anyone goes out and spends money on nitrate removal sponges but they're fine in that they won't mess up the cycle or anything.

pH hasn't crashed has it?

I'll check again with todays reading but its been steady away at about 8.0 ph

 

[Rubyuk]

Day 18 update full results
Ph 8.0 to 8.5
Ammonia 2.4ish
Nitrite 0.1 to 0.3
Nitrate 5
Gh 120
Kh 80
Is this still looking ok after 18 days or is something wrong and is any action needed?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sometimes it's just slow, i'm wondering if the pH may actually be too high, is that the highest reading on your test kit? because if it is then it actually means 8.5 or higher not just 8.5.

anyone remember what pH can cause a problem with cycles, think it's up by 9 somewhere but it's possible that this is slowing you.

8.2-8.4 is optimum though so initially with a reading of 8 I wouldn't be concerned, but wondering if it's actually higher than that.

 

[Rubyuk]

sometimes it's just slow, i'm wondering if the pH may actually be too high, is that the highest reading on your test kit? because if it is then it actually means 8.5 or higher not just 8.5.

anyone remember what pH can cause a problem with cycles, think it's up by 9 somewhere but it's possible that this is slowing you.

8.2-8.4 is optimum though so initially with a reading of 8 I wouldn't be concerned, but wondering if it's actually higher than that.

Just checked kit Miss W and nutrafin Ph test goes to 9.5

I know someone somewhere said that they had dorset pea gravel and it greatly increased their PH during cycling but then calmed down and reverted to normal by end of cycle?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

ok no probs, so teh reading is definately 8/8.5 then and not any higher.

someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think this is high enough to stall a cycle

 

[waterdrop]

Well, obove-optimal pH appears to be the only thing to hang the slow-cycling on so far, I agree with that, so the pea gravel might be the explanation. Probably would just require more patience, though, nothing serious I guess.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Rubyuk]

Thanks Miss W and Waterdrop

I'll keep you posted.

I will check PH again tonight just to make sure that its not higher than I think as Miss W has got me thinking now