Perhaps Filter Media Advice?

[Boulder Fish]

UPDATE - 9 days in to the new cycle and things are looking UP!

This is exciting news for me, so I wanted to share with those who helped and those who are cycling (hang in there).

When I changed my filter media to the ceramic rings, I retained the filter bag that I had been using (rinsing it only with tank water to evacuate the last remains of carbon and zeolite). I was hoping to preserve any tiny colony of bacteria that may have been clinging to existence at the top of the bag - before the chemical filters could muck things up.

Either that worked, or I just had the ideal conditions after all the advice I've gleaned here on the forums because...
My initial 5ppm of ammonia processed in 6 days (could have been a little sooner, but I hadn't tested for about 36 hours)
The second load of ammonia processed in just 2 days
Nitrates have risen to 80ppm
I've been able to maintain pH 8.2

AND, for the first time, I am seeing Nitrites!
Just this morning (day 9) I measured .50 ppm.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[toshapetriji]

Good stuff keep at it. I too am waiting for my cycle to complete and my LFS thinks I´m crazy to go the fishless route. I just told him that keeping fish is not just about keeping fish but keeping them healthy and stress free too. Oh and alive.....

 

[locust267]

I'm using normal carbon bags at only 6 days into my cycle, am seeing a drop in ammonia and increase in nitrites, should I too remove the carbon?

 

[waterdrop]

I'm using normal carbon bags at only 6 days into my cycle, am seeing a drop in ammonia and increase in nitrites, should I too remove the carbon?

Do some searches about this (don't have time at the mo to explain all the details.) Carbon is usually considered wasted space in a filter under normal circumstances because it uses up space that could better be used by biomedia. Carbon only lasts 3 days and then is ready to be taken out and tossed - but its purpose is as a chemical media - one that removes yellow tannins from wood or unusual organic smells or other substances that are rare occurances. As a biomedia, carbon is poor because it crumbles and degrades over time and of course plenty of time is needed for working with good bacteria.

Hope this helps get you started,
~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

brilliant, glad it's finally progressing!