What Do These Water Test Readings Mean?

[Cheffi]

Had a slight hiccup with my cycle last week as we had power cut and the filter was off. These are my water results for the last two days can anyone tell me if they are bad/good and how far through you think I am? Have been adding ammonia up to and around 5ppm.

19th ammonia 2ppm
nitrite 5ppm +
nitrate 20ppm

At this point added ammonia to raise to 5ppm

20th ammonia 4ppm
nitrite 5ppm +
nitrate 20ppm

I seemed to have had nothing happen since yesterday for some reason. Oh and my water comes out of the tap at 10ppm for nitrate.

 

[Ginge]

Had a slight hiccup with my cycle last week as we had power cut and the filter was off. These are my water results for the last two days can anyone tell me if they are bad/good and how far through you think I am? Have been adding ammonia up to and around 5ppm.

19th ammonia 2ppm
nitrite 5ppm +
nitrate 20ppm

At this point added ammonia to raise to 5ppm

20th ammonia 4ppm
nitrite 5ppm +
nitrate 20ppm

I seemed to have had nothing happen since yesterday for some reason. Oh and my water comes out of the tap at 10ppm for nitrate.

Where you say "At this point added ammonia to raise to 5ppm" what day did you do that and did you add ammonia on the 18th? Only add the ammonia when the ammonia has dropped from 5pp to 0ppm i think. When the tank can process 5ppm of ammonia in 12 hours then you just keep adding ammonia until you get you nitite spike then you done. Confused?

 

[Cheffi]

Yes added on the 18th to take from 2 to 5ppm. Doh I've done it wrong haven't I? So I don't add any more now til it's dropped to 0? But my nitrite is at 5ppm anyway so what does that mean? Now am totally confused.
My nitrite card doesn't go any higher than 5 so in my ignorance I would say that was a 'spike'? Also my nitrates have gone up from 10 (how it comes out of tap) to 20ppm.

 

[BigIan]

your amonia is being broken down into nitrites,
you are currently showing a nitrite spike,
your nitrates will steadily go up as your nitrated are broken down
keep going as you are amonia dosent have to hit 0 i let mine drop to 1 or two then dosed up again, that way the bacteria are never without food.

your cycle will be finished when your nitrites are at 0 and when your amonia drops from 5 to 0 within 12 hours. its hard to say when exactky you will be done but it sounds like your half way through your cycle

 

[Ginge]

Well done cheffi you on the right path then. I was wrong about letting it drop to 0. Half way hey. Excited i bet you could be done in 2weeks.

 

[Cheffi]

Well done cheffi you on the right path then. I was wrong about letting it drop to 0. Half way hey. Excited i bet you could be done in 2weeks.

OOOOooooh I hope so. Just got worried because ammonia didn't seem to have moved for a day. Maybe the bacteria have got full tummies or on a diet for day!!

 

[BigIan]

ITt happens some times it slows down, just keep topping up the amonia and then wait for the nitrItres to peak and fall and your pretty much there