Water Change Needed?

[Kevros]

Hi Guys,

I'm relatively new to this site and for the past 2 1/2 weeks i have been doing a fishless cycle. About a week ago my filter processed it first bit of Ammonia so i have been topping up with around 7ml of ammonia per day since (as my levels have been dropping within 24 hours), now since my ammonia started to drop my Nitrite and Nitrate levels have been through the roof (the darkest colour on the chart), so my question is do i need to either do a water change in order for the Nitrate levels to drop to process more Nitrite, or do i keep going as i am until the Nitrite starts to drop and then go onto 12 hour checks?

 

[Katch]

Check your pH.

If it crashes below 6 then do a 75% water change.

Also ease off the ammonia so you are adding 3-4ppm every 24hours not 5ppm just until the Nitrite cycles in 24 hours. Then back up to 5ppm.

 

[Kevros]

Check your pH.

If it crashes below 6 then do a 75% water change.

Also ease off the ammonia so you are adding 3-4ppm every 24hours not 5ppm just until the Nitrite cycles in 24 hours. Then back up to 5ppm.

PH was 7.5 yesterday, which i'm assuming is ok. And i am adding 3-4ppm every 24 hours, i have a 220 litre tank so it works out at 6.97ml, i have rounded off to 7ml.
So you are saying hold off on a water change for now and await the Nitrites to drop within 24 hours? Just so i am clear, it is very frustrating waiting but i just wanted to make sure that my cycle hadn't stalled, thanks for the advice too!

 

[Katch]

You're not stalled.

If you want to help it along put the temp up to 28/29 degrees and add bicarb slowly (tsp at a time) till your pH is up to 7.8.

Your ammonia dose is spot on.

You can expect the next part of the cycle to take 4-6 weeks I'm afraid. Just keep at it and keep an eye on your pH. If it crashes, large WC.

 

[Kevros]

You're not stalled.

If you want to help it along put the temp up to 28/29 degrees and add bicarb slowly (tsp at a time) till your pH is up to 7.8.

Your ammonia dose is spot on.

You can expect the next part of the cycle to take 4-6 weeks I'm afraid. Just keep at it and keep an eye on your pH. If it crashes, large WC.

Nice one

The temp is the tank is currently around 29/30 at the moment, so i will leave that as it is and keep an eye on any PH crashes! Although i am using the PH strips to test this, i presume it's best to get a liquid PH test?

 

[Katch]

API master liquid test kit is the kit of choice usually.

 

[Kevros]

API master liquid test kit is the kit of choice usually.

Well i've already got the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate kits in liquid form so will have a look for a PH liquid test kit, cheers again for the advice Was just worried it had possibly stalled but you've cleared my mind, cheers