No Ammonia Peak Yet ! :o

[ShrimpDianne]

Hey everyone. I was reading about the whole "tank cycling" situation and the ammonia peaks that come with it and Im not really sure what my water is up to.

The PH of the water is in between 5.5 and 6.0
The Ammonia is at 0

The tank as been running about 10-12 days and I would have thought there would be some kind of ammonia, but nothing. I want to add more fish, but im worried about this "peak" that might arise in the next few days.

Is it weird that there is no signs of any ammonia?

 

[phocoena]

What type of test kit are you using?

 

[ShrimpDianne]

I have a Hagen NH3 test kit and Ph

 

[phocoena]

The Hagen test is hard to distinguish fully between 0 and 0.6 values. When I get a chance (ie what I have added processed I'll show you how similar they look)
Have you got a nitrite and/or nitrate test? If so what are those tests showing. If there has been ammonia at one point it will show up in some form.

 

[ShrimpDianne]

NO nitrite or nitrate test yet. I think I will bring a sample down to the aquarium shop tomorrow. The fish seem to be doing fine tho
thanks!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

The PH of the water is in between 5.5 and 6.0

he tank as been running about 10-12 days

Is it weird that there is no signs of any ammonia?

Yes, with those readings and with your stocking level (nine fish in total?) it is weird. Although your tank size will make a difference if it's huge, what size is it? And how many plants do you have as they will soak up ammonia too, which may be why you're not getting a reading?

The problem is that at the pH level you have(if it really is at that level) there will be almost no bacteria processing the ammonia, so you would definitely expect a rise in ammonia especially after 12 days. So something isn't right there. Do as you say and take a sample to the fish shop and have it tested to double check.

Are you using any bacteria boosters of any kind?

And don't expect an ammonia peak. With fish in the tank you have to keep the ammonia level low (below about 0.25ppm always) so whenever it gets to that level you have to make a large water change, say 50%, to reduce it and so you'll never see that peak that people talk about.

Also, as already mentioned, you're going to need to test nitrite and nitrate at some point, at least once a day, so you really need to get a full test kit, like the API freshwater master test kit, or buy the nitrite and nitrate separately.

One last thing. That pH is very low. Do you think you could test the pH of your tap water after it's been left standing for 24hours and post the result please?