Update On Fishless Cycle...

[rgrrmg]

Day 10, all seems well, here are my stats.
For oxygenation I am using a Maxima air pump both air outlets going to a tee then to an 8” bubble wand.
12 Gallon tank
Seeding it with some mature filter media.
Temp.: 84 Deg. F
Ammonia (PPM):0.0
Nitrites (PPM):~2.0
PH (PPM):7.5
I am adding 2.0 Ml of ammonia this morning (Bringing it to ~3.0 PPM), the next morning it has been going to 0.0PPM.

Now if I could just see that Nitrite go to zero…

 

[Curiosity101]

Sounds fine to me.
Do you know your nitrates aswell? It's a good idea to keep an eye on them. Just to confirm they are rising.

 

[rgrrmg]

Sounds fine to me.
Do you know your nitrates aswell? It's a good idea to keep an eye on them. Just to confirm they are rising.

Checked nitrates on Day 9 and it was ~6.0PPM.

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmm...that's pretty low...

Oh and just out of interest why are you cycling to 3ppm as opposed to 5? It doesn't really matter, I'm just interested, as you make well find you can't add your desired stocking all in one go.

 

[rgrrmg]

Would like OM's input when you get a chance...

Hmm...that's pretty low...

Oh and just out of interest why are you cycling to 3ppm as opposed to 5? It doesn't really matter, I'm just interested, as you make well find you can't add your desired stocking all in one go.

On one of my threads I was told to only "bring the Ammonia level up to 3ppm instead of 5 , to help minimize nitrite and nitrate overload some".

 

[OldMan47]

I'm not sure that the difference between 3 and 5 ppm means much until you get right to the end of the cycle. At the last, you want to be able to push at least 4 ppm in one end and get double zeros 12 hours later. Since the bacteria build regularly over time, the rise from 3 to 5 ppm should only take a day or two to happen anyway. As far as a custom number in a thread, I often try to take a lot more into account than the simple basic rules of the process. When there is something happening with a particular cycle, I will often suggest changes based on the actual results that a person is seeing on their particular cycle. It does not mean that I am willing to change the basic advice that you are seeing all over this forum. The general practice of using 5 ppm to begin, dropping to around 2 or 3 ppm during the nitrite spike and bringing levels back to 5 ppm at the end still makes sense in most circumstances.

 

[rgrrmg]

I'm not sure that the difference between 3 and 5 ppm means much until you get right to the end of the cycle. At the last, you want to be able to push at least 4 ppm in one end and get double zeros 12 hours later. Since the bacteria build regularly over time, the rise from 3 to 5 ppm should only take a day or two to happen anyway. As far as a custom number in a thread, I often try to take a lot more into account than the simple basic rules of the process. When there is something happening with a particular cycle, I will often suggest changes based on the actual results that a person is seeing on their particular cycle. It does not mean that I am willing to change the basic advice that you are seeing all over this forum. The general practice of using 5 ppm to begin, dropping to around 2 or 3 ppm during the nitrite spike and bringing levels back to 5 ppm at the end still makes sense in most circumstances.

Thanks OM,

So in my case do you see any change needed as far the level of ammonia I am adding at this point in my cycle?

 

[waterdrop]

For me, I certainly feel you are doing fine and need no adjustments. Agree with OM, it only takes a few short days to bring it up to 5ppm from something lower right near the end.

One change I would make in your reporting would be to always mention if the test results you are reporting for a given day were taken 12 or 24 hours after the ammonia was added. If people don't mention it we assume 24, but its more re-assuring and it gets you in the habit of thinking of testing times as one or the other.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rgrrmg]

For me, I certainly feel you are doing fine and need no adjustments. Agree with OM, it only takes a few short days to bring it up to 5ppm from something lower right near the end.

One change I would make in your reporting would be to always mention if the test results you are reporting for a given day were taken 12 or 24 hours after the ammonia was added. If people don't mention it we assume 24, but its more re-assuring and it gets you in the habit of thinking of testing times as one or the other.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks WD,

I guess since I'm testing every 12 hrs. this was a 12 hr test ( I test in the morning, if I see ammonia is at 0.0 ppm then I add more).

 

[waterdrop]

You know to only add ammonia once in any given 24 hour period, right?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rgrrmg]

You know to only add ammonia once in any given 24 hour period, right?

~~waterdrop~~

Yes, Thanks.