Test Results Someone Advice Me! Please

[Harlequins]

You're filter will be cycled when both the ammonia/nitrite are testing zero for at least 7 days running without a waterchange.

 

[GTS_MAD]

i see thanks for your reply. dont suppose you know the answer to my other post do you.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with Curiosity, you may need one more change to get it down quite close to zero so that it won't have gone over 0.25ppm by tomorrow morning. You've done a good job getting it down to where ammonia is below 0.25 and nitrite(NO2) is zero ppm (nitrate NO3 being 5ppm is just fine, nitrate is not going to be something to worry about during cycling.)

Basically, your challange now is to test morning and evening and get yourself into a situation where if either the ammonia or the nitrite go up, they do not get up above 0.25ppm before you can get home and perform another water change. Its basically going to be 12 hour blocks where you test and change, but if you find its staying close to zero then you'll be able to go 24 hours or more before you have to do a water change again. The test results will be your guide, you just have to get the hang of using them to anticipate when to do a water change and how big to make it.

Its going to be better to adjust your thinking to the idea that you may be at the beginning of a month of this and then if it happens sooner then you'll be pleasantly surprised! The bacteria grow slowly and generally take at least a month.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[GTS_MAD]

hi guys.

Right........

My ammonia is down to 0 now but creeps up to 0.25 and then back down but.......

My Nitrites are sky high, do i just continue the water changes

 

[Curiosity101]

Yep, those nitrites need to stay below 0.25 aswell.

 

[GTS_MAD]

ok my ammonia is creeping up to 0.25ppm but the nitrites are around 2ppm.

Do i do about 90% water change and is this good tat the nitrites are going up is it cyling now?

 

[OldMan47]

It looks to me like you have started into your nitrite spike phase now. That does indeed mean that your tank has started to cycle but it also means that you need to stay on top of the nitrites. Since nitrites are produced in much higher amounts than ammonia, the effort for the next few weeks could be much greater. The 90% or so water change sounds just about right for where you are in the process and for the nitrite reading that you are dealing with.

 

[GTS_MAD]

Great! so keep testing and doing water changes then, im on holiday next week so can keep on top of it to,
so once ammonia and nitrite are 0 the nitrates will start to rise to, is that right.

aso how long does it usally take if im doing 90% water chnages for the nitrite to come down?

 

[OldMan47]

The first water change should drop the nitrites by about 90%, the problem is that they will be back up somewhat tomorrow. When it becomes easier to control nitrites, meaning less water changes, you will start to see some nitrates. Until then, the water changes for nitrites will keep the nitrates very low too.

 

[GTS_MAD]

ok thats great so just keep doing water changes then and bare with it, thanks for all your help to.

 

[GTS_MAD]

FOLLOWING MY 90% WATER CHNAGE TODAY...

My readings now are:

Ammonia - 0.25ppm

Nitrite - 0ppm

Nitrate - 10ppm

i take it the Nitrites are going to spike again soon?

Do i just continue doing water chnages and when do i know when to stop doing them lol

 

[Curiosity101]

You'll know when to stop when you're no longer seeing any ammonia or nitrites before you do a water change. So say after 12 hours you test the water (to see what size change you need to do).
Eventually you will test and it'll either be low enough you don't need to do one, or it'll actually register as 0.
When both have held at 0 for a few days you can safely say you're cycled.

And yes, nitrites will probably spike again soon. Ah the joys of fish-in cycling!

 

[GTS_MAD]

great lol, the joys indeed!

Just cant wait till its cycled and i can start buling my tank bak up then.