Water Testing

[The Taffy Apple]

Again, be sure to read the 'fishless cycle' information in the beginners section.

 

[the_lock_man]

Today my water testing results are:

pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 5.0


Do you think the tank is cycled now and ready for fish.

Nope. As was said before, nothing other than 0ppm for ammonia and nitrite is "Cycled".

How long after you dosed ammonia did you take that reading?

I added some Friday night, then again Sunday day

So, it's taking about 2½ - 3 days to get from 3ppm, down to 0.25ppm. Nowhere near cycled.

Remember that link I posted? Please read it thoroughly.

Pick a time of the day at which you will be always available to attend to your tank, and be available 12 hours later. 7 o'clock works well for a lot of people, they're home from work at 7pm, and not yet gone to work at 7am.

At your chosen time, dose to 4ppm. 24 hours later, test for ammonia and nitrite. If you have ammonia, but no nitrite, read (1) below. If you have ammonia and nitrite, read (2) below. If you have nitrite, but no ammonia, also read (2) below. If you have no ammonia or nitrite, read (3) below.

(1) Leave the tank alone. Keep testing at 24hr intervals, until you get 0ppm ammonia (irrespective of whether you are showing nitrite at these subsequent tests). Go to (2)
(2) Redose at 3ppm, and test 24 hours later. Keep redosing every 24 hours to 3ppm until you read 0ppm ammonia and nitrite. This may take some weeks, depending upon how much bacteria you've aldready got in your filter. Go to (3)
(3) Redose to 4ppm, and test 12 hours later. If you are showing ammonia or nitrite, retest after another 12 hours (ie 24 hours after the dose) and at this 24hour point, redose to 4ppm. Keep testing every 12 hours, and redosing every 24 hours, until you see 0ppm ammonia and nitrite on a 12 hour test.

Once you have seen this Double Zero after 12 hours, continue with the same regime for a week, to check that you keep getting Double Zeros after 12 hours. Once you have this, you are cycled.

It's vitally important to keep your dosing time consistent - always dose at the same time of day.