Nicolaisam-My Tank Is Cycling

[nicolaisam]

I havent set up a new tank for 20 years so if i am doing anything wrong,please let me know.

Have set up my new Rio 180.
Gravel(17KG) and piece of bogwood(secondhand,been in a tank for 6 months,i pressure washed and soaked it for a few days,water stayed clear)
Filled with water and stress coat+ and added some API zyme.
Squeezed the filter from my Biube into the new filter.
Temperature is at 28
Added 8 ml of ammonia(9.5%) the ammonia level is now just over 4PPM

From what i have been reading i now have to let the bacteria build up until they reduce the Ammonia,and then top the Ammonia up to 4PPM until it will clear 4PPM in 12 hrs.

Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

Sounds like a good start; hope it doesn't take too long for you!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You have to wait until both ammonia AND nitrite clear in 12 hours. Best wishes!!!

 

[nicolaisam]

Thanks.

Hopefully will have it ready for fish in a month or 6 weeks.

Water is looking cloudy this afternoon.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

More than likely just a bacteria bloom, nothing to worry about. Just keep the lights off, the heater and filter on, and it should clear in 12-48 hours.

 

[nicolaisam]

Ok,i hope so.

Thanks

 

[The chilly dipper]

nice job

 

[nicolaisam]

Ammonia has dropped from 4ppm to 2 ppm
And the Nitrates have risen
thanks to Fluttermoth for the seeded filter media.Hopefully will speed it up

 

[nicolaisam]

Just did a PH test. Came out at 6.2 ,Its usually closer to 7.6

Just done an 75% water change.

Will test Ph again in a few hours

When can i add Ammonia to bring the PPM back up to 4.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You can just add baking soda to stop a pH crash in a fishless cycle. It will all be taken out with the big water change at the end anyway. You are doing great!

 

[nicolaisam]

Ph has crashed again in 20 hours.

Its back down to 6.4

What could be causing this?

 

[nicolaisam]

Ph was increased to 7.5 using Soda.

Tank will now clear 5PPM of ammonia in 24 hrs,Nitrite is off the scale.

I think it had stalled due to the PH drop.

We seem to be moving again now.

just about to top it back up to 5ppm and test in the morning 12hrs.

Temperature is 29.5

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Usually the pH crash is due to a build-up of nitrAtes, in the form of nitric acid. It's not a big deal. Just keep the pH up with baking soda, and if need be, do a water change to clear the nitrates (this will also clear the nitrites and get them back on to the readable scale). A water change is said to pause a cycle sometimes, but it kicks back in a day or two. Not a big deal, and if your cycle is already stalled, it can help to kick start it again.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

PH crashes can also be caused by living in an area of soft water from your tap, i found this out by going a KH/GH API test.

I added some Coral Gravel to both my tanks and the PH has stayed stable from the day i added them, otherwise i would have had PH crashed once a week, stalling the cycling process..

Hope this helps,
Terry.

 

[nicolaisam]

Thanks for your replies.

It stalled a few days ago,seems ok again now.
Is clearing 5ppm of ammonia in 24 hrs.

Just added ammonia to bring it up to 5ppm again,will check in 12 hrs.
will do a 50% water change to see if that helps.

Used seeded media,has only been 13 days