What Is Going On With My Cycle?

[KamSandhu44]

Right, so here is my story so far. I bought a Juwel Rio 180. I set it up as per instructions from the LFS. I added my gravel, filled the tank with water, added dechlorinator and BacterLife.

Being a noob I didnt wash the gravel. After a few days the water turned cloudy, at the time I thought it was from the gravel, but come to think of it now, it may have been a bacteria boom.

I was advised by the LFS to change all the water and wash all the gravel, which I did and probably disturbed the cycle. So I changed all the water, added dechlorinator and began to dose with BioMature.

Here are my results since starting with BioMature…
Day 1 Ammonia 2.6 Nitrite 4.6 Nitrate n/a
Day 2 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 50
Day 3 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 50
Day 4 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrite 50 – 110
Day 5 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrite 110
Done a 60% water change
Day 6 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 10
Day 7 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 20
Day 8 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 50 – 110
Day 9 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 50 – 110
Done a 90% water change
Day 10 Ammonia 0.6 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrite 10
Day 11 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 20 – 50
Day 12 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 10
Day 13 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrite 10
Day 14 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrite 10
Day 15 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 10
Day 16 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Done a 50% water change
Day 17 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Day 18 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Day 19 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Day 20 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 5
Day 21 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 22 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 23 No Testing
Day 24 Ammonia 2.4 – 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 25 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 26 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate 5 – 10
Day 27 Ammonia 2.4 – 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate 10
Day 28 Ammonia 2.4 – 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 29 Ammonia 2.4 - 4.9 nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 30 ammonia 2.4ish nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 20

Why would my nitrite be going down when it hasn't really spiked?

 

[Jam Jam]

Right, so here is my story so far. I bought a Juwel Rio 180. I set it up as per instructions from the LFS. I added my gravel, filled the tank with water, added dechlorinator and BacterLife.

Being a noob I didnt wash the gravel. After a few days the water turned cloudy, at the time I thought it was from the gravel, but come to think of it now, it may have been a bacteria boom.

I was advised by the LFS to change all the water and wash all the gravel, which I did and probably disturbed the cycle. So I changed all the water, added dechlorinator and began to dose with BioMature.

Here are my results since starting with BioMature…
Day 1 Ammonia 2.6 Nitrite 4.6 Nitrate n/a
Day 2 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 50
Day 3 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 50
Day 4 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrite 50 – 110
Day 5 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrite 110
Done a 60% water change
Day 6 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 10
Day 7 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 20
Day 8 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 50 – 110
Day 9 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 50 – 110
Done a 90% water change
Day 10 Ammonia 0.6 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrite 10
Day 11 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 20 – 50
Day 12 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 10
Day 13 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrite 10
Day 14 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrite 10
Day 15 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 10
Day 16 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Done a 50% water change
Day 17 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Day 18 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Day 19 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate n/a
Day 20 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 5
Day 21 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 22 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 23 No Testing
Day 24 Ammonia 2.4 – 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 25 Ammonia 2.4 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 26 Ammonia 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate 5 – 10
Day 27 Ammonia 2.4 – 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate 10
Day 28 Ammonia 2.4 – 4.9 Nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 29 Ammonia 2.4 - 4.9 nitrite 0.8 Nitrate n/a
Day 30 ammonia 2.4ish nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 20

Why would my nitrite be going down when it hasn't really spiked?

I think it has,.8 is a fair old reading. Few more days it will we right down if not gone

 

[KamSandhu44]

I was wondering that, but wasn't sure.

I haven't dosed biomature/ ammonia for almost 10 days. If the cycle was close to ending, wouldn't the ammonia be getting consumed?

 

[Aquascaper]

What test kits are you using? Never seen ones that can give that accurate a ppm reading.

 

[Jam Jam]

Yes your right,but it looks like its going the right way rather than staying same or rising.

 

[KamSandhu44]

Aquascaper I am using Nutrafin liquid test kit.

As the ammonia isn't getting consumed, wouldn't that show that there is not enough bacteria?

 

[Aquascaper]

Looks like your cycle has stalled, what's the pH?

 

[KamSandhu44]

Looks like your cycle has stalled, what's the pH?

It is between 7.5 - 8. It seemed to have had stalled earlier and I done a 50% water change then and made no difference.

Is there anything else I could try?

 

[Aquascaper]

I would try getting the ammonia down to minimal levels and then wait to see if/how long it takes to process then build up the dosage again.

Remember a 50% water change will only half the levels so you need to keep doing them without adding ammonia until you get them down. I would aim for 1ppm and then wait and see while testing till it hits zero before dosing again.

 

[KamSandhu44]

I would try getting the ammonia down to minimal levels and then wait to see if/how long it takes to process then build up the dosage again.

Remember a 50% water change will only half the levels so you need to keep doing them without adding ammonia until you get them down. I would aim for 1ppm and then wait and see while testing till it hits zero before dosing again.

Argh I didn't want to hear water change. I will do that tmrw after work. What would cause the cycle to stall? Too much ammonia?

 

[Yanks15]

Can you indicate on your original post as to what day and how much ammonia you dosed? It seems obvious by your log just would like to see it labeled. Does sound as if it is stalled.


Thanks,
Steve

 

[Aquascaper]

If there's more ammonia going in than the ammonia eating bacteria can process then that's one cause, by reducing back to 1ppm you should give the cycle chance to start up again.

 

[KamSandhu44]

If there's more ammonia going in than the ammonia eating bacteria can process then that's one cause, by reducing back to 1ppm you should give the cycle chance to start up again.

darn it, I will change the water when I get back from work. I am also going to the lfs to see if I can get some mature media. After the tank has processed 1ppm ammonia, do I redose back to 4-5ppm?

 

[KamSandhu44]

I have managed to get some matured filter sponges from the LFS, I will pick them up after work. I will cut them up and stick them in with my filter, is it still worth doing a water change?

 

[Aquascaper]

I would just to be safe. Do a big water change then gradually up the ammonia dosage over the week to get back to 4 - 5ppm.

If the mature media works then the filter will deal with that in 12hrs. Keep dosing for a few days to double check and then you're ready for fish. Dose right up to the evening before you are adding fish and do a massive water change before adding the fish.