No Nitrites

[cheerycherry]

so today is week 5 of my fishless cycle and I was suprised with this mornings test that nitrites were 0.

All results this morning are:

Ammonia 0 (brought back to 4ppm)

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 5......would this be low due to the 50% change I did last week?

Ph 7.5

So ive added enough ammonia to bring it up to 4ppm should I now test tonight 12 hours later to see whats going on? really hope this is a good sign feels like ive been waiting for soo long.

Also has anyone used ph buffer before? I used to to being my ph up to 8.0 but its dropped to 7.5 again so long term to keep the ph high whats the best option?

 

[cheerycherry]

Anyone?

 

[Schmill]

Looks good

Yes, now you need to do your week of 'proving'. Normally before this you would do a massive water change to rid the tank of nitrAtes, but yours are really low anyway.

Add the ammonia to take the tank to 5ppm, (or 4ppm because thats easier to test for ), and then in 12 hours test the ammonia and nitrIte again, and see if both have dropped to zero. You do this for a week to make sure everything is stable. Also test the nitrAtes just to keep an eye on them. (Incidently do you have any live plants in the tank?)

So in summary:

- Test every 12 hours
- Add ammonia every 24 hours, (presuming it has dropped to zero).

If you get a weeks worth of results with ammonia and nitrIte at zero each time you test, you are cycled and good to go

 

[cheerycherry]

Looks good

Yes, now you need to do your week of 'proving'. Normally before this you would do a massive water change to rid the tank of nitrAtes, but yours are really low anyway.

Add the ammonia to take the tank to 5ppm, (or 4ppm because thats easier to test for ), and then in 12 hours test the ammonia and nitrIte again, and see if both have dropped to zero. You do this for a week to make sure everything is stable. Also test the nitrAtes just to keep an eye on them. (Incidently do you have any live plants in the tank?)

So in summary:

- Test every 12 hours
- Add ammonia every 24 hours, (presuming it has dropped to zero).

If you get a weeks worth of results with ammonia and nitrIte at zero each time you test, you are cycled and good to go

No I only have fake plants

 

[Schmill]

Intrigues why your nitrAtes are so low then. What nitrAte reading does your tap water give?
(none of this really matters though, just interested, continue the cycle as per above )

 

[cheerycherry]

Well I did a 50-60% water change last week think it was thursday or friday so would that make the nitrates lower? when I test again tonight ill do a tap water test for nitrates as well