Wow Input Please

[Lady J]

My tank has been cycling for 3-1/2 weeks and I tested my parameters just now, doing each test twice. The kits are new (API) and don't look as if they've been sitting on the shelf for a gazillion years. The parameters are as follows:

Ammonia: 1.00 (I added ammonia this morning and have been adding almost daily since day 1)
Nitrites: .25
Nitrates: 5.00
KH: 6.00
pH: 7.20

Um, can this be correct?! If so my tank is almost done cycling and it's only been 3-1/2 weeks. Please provide me some feedback as I'm kind of in awe right now.

If so, should I now stop adding ammonia?

 

[ShinySideUp]

My tank has been cycling for 3-1/2 weeks and I tested my parameters just now, doing each test twice. The kits are new (API) and don't look as if they've been sitting on the shelf for a gazillion years. The parameters are as follows:

Ammonia: 1.00 (I added ammonia this morning and have been adding almost daily since day 1)
Nitrites: .25
Nitrates: 5.00
KH: 6.00
pH: 7.20

Um, can this be correct?! If so my tank is almost done cycling and it's only been 3-1/2 weeks. Please provide me some feedback as I'm kind of in awe right now.

If so, should I now stop adding ammonia?

It may well be correct but the tank is not cycled. Both ammonia and nitrites should be zero twelve hours after the addition of ammonia. Assuming no water changes your nitrates would be expected to be considerably higher as ammonium turns to ammonia with raised pH, ammonia turns to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. When everything 12-18 hours after adding ammonia is zero apart from nitrate, you should consider the tank cycled; otherwise continue probably for another two weeks.

 

[Lady J]

Thank you shinysideup. Yes, I understand the nitrogen cycle and its general duration which is why I'm so surprised. I expected to see no nitrates whatsoever at this point. However, considering how much ammonia I added this morning, my tank is processing it quite fast according to the tests because there is almost no ammonia and a very low nitrite reading. I didn't mean to imply that it's ready for fish because it's certainly not, but again, it's processing the ammonia rather quickly thus I think it's cycling quite fast for starting just
3-1/2 weeks ago.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

You're well on your way but not done yet! You'll see your nitrites skyrocket to above what your test can register and your nitrates will do the same, which is why it's clear that you're not there yet as your nitrates are only 5.

A figure i've seen used around here, and experienced myself, is that nitrite takes a little over twice as long to drop as your ammonia did. You'll see your nitrates build but it will apear that your nitrite isn't dropping, though it is, it's just being produced so fast that the small amount of nitrifying bacteria can't keep up. It'll seem like it's never going to drop and then it will almost over night. Then when both ammonia and nitrite are both dropping to 0 in around 12 hours for a few days in a row, you're done! Do a water change removing as much water as you can and add fish!

Also, i don't know how much ammonia you're dosing a day but between 2-3ppm is plenty, any more will just slow things down and there's no way the fish you're adding will produce more than that in a day anyway

Oh, also, have you checked for nitrates in your tap water?

 

[Lady J]

Hi. Here's what so odd---yesterday the nitrites were very high; I guess I just wasn't expecting to see ANY nitrates yet as it seems way too soon. I'm estimating though, that in another week it's going to be done. There are a lot of plants in the tank so that may be helping, IDK.

 

[Lady J]

almostawesome, I just checked what my nitrites were yesterday, and they registered at 40. Today, after adding ammonia early this morning, they are at .25. I think it's moving along quickly. Again, it's not ready for fish but it's getting there, and fast it seems although I could be mistaken.

Typing error: yesterday the nitrites were 50, not 40.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Well in that case yes, it looks like you're not far off!

 

[Lady J]

Ok, I will start adding ammonia in the morning and then checking 12 hours later. WOO HOO Maybe in a week I can begin stocking.

Oops, another question: How much water should I change before adding the first fish?

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

As much as you can, right down to the substrate. Just be sure the filter is switched off and you dechlorinate the water before turning it back on! A big water change like this is recommended because your nitrate will be so stupidly high once your cycle is finished

 

[Lady J]

I sound so redundant, but once again, THANK YOU! It's almost 8am here and I just checked the water.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites .25
Nitrates 5.0

I just added ammonia---very irresponsible of me, but I don't even measure how much I put in. It's just a little glug, glug from the big bottle.

No problem doing a huge water change. Is it ok if I uproot the plants to get into the sand this time and then just replant them? They haven't settle in much yet so I don't think it should be a problem. almostawesome, I sooo much want to get a betta (although he has to be last). Gettin' excited.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Don't worry about removing water any lower than the substrate, just leave your plants as they are. The problem with not measuring your ammonia is you don't know how much your bacs are actually processing so you don't know how big your colony is. Also, if you overdose on ammonia it's possible to grow the wrong type of bacteria, or so I've been told. It's also possible to stall a cycle by having too high of nitrate (I think) so if you're adding way too much ammonia, then you're getting way too much nitrite and therefore way too much nitrate

But then you may be fine! I would just measure it, it ain't so bad - have you used the calculator located at the top of the page?

 

[Lady J]

Well, the plants are also doing what's called a "silent cycle" according to someone in the planted section which is why the ammonia is so low. Yes, I don't want the wrong kind of bacteria. Ugh You know I follow what others with a lot of experience recommend. However, the nitrite and nitrate readings are contradicting this. Geez, where's a chemist when ya need one!

I will do almost a 100% water change (that sounds like so much). You know, one thing I never considered is how nitrates are removed from the water. I'm assuming it's only from doing water changes. When I ran my reef, I had 0 readings of nitrates but that's because I ran a powerful skimmer, used a sump with macroalgae, and had a deep sand bed. I didn't even think about removing them from this tank. Duh

And btw, I'm afraid to use the calculater cuz I KNOW I've been adding too much ammonia. Uh oh...

 

[Lady J]

I found the answer. It absolutely is possible to overdose ammonia. I think the reason I'm not having a problem is because I did 2 water changes to remove the tannins in the water. Geez, i got lucky (I think).

Gotta go to work so ttyl.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I wouldn't say you were doing a full silent cycle as it takes a very heavily planted tank to do a silent cycle but they will be helping a little. Or do I have it wrong and you are heavily planted? Anyhooo! Just use a measuring spoon or something to work out how much to add. I just wonder about overdosing because you'll only need a few mL for your tank so a "glug" sounds a little " " lol

I don't see your readings as contradictory actually, it just means that you have a small amount of nitrifying bactera in your tank it's not a straight. You don't get the next stage until the previous is fully complete, ya know? When it gets to the point where nitrite is being produced you'll start seeing the nitrate for sure, soooo it's all good

Regarding the water changes, you're not alone in your reaction. A lot of people have the same reaction to large water changes but they really are harmless. As long as you do the change right (using dechlorinator and roughly matching temperature, if fish are in) then you can do several in a day, with fish in the tank, without causing any problems. All the good stuff is in the filter. Eventually after a tank has been running for many months you get some useful stuff on the ornaments, substrate, etc but still not in the water You are correct though, the only way to remove nitrates is through water changes.

Haha! Don't be a wimp! You should use it so you know how much to put in from here on out ya crazy....

 

[Lady J]

You're so funny awesome! The calculator says to add no more. So, I take it my tank is ready to cycle the nitrites into nitrates (it's already converting the nitrites because they keep registering below 1 but the nitrates are arount 50. However, I don't see how that is correct because don't I need to make sure there is still a tiny bit of ammonia present so that I can see how long it's actually taking for it to break down and convert into nitrates---the goal being 12 hours?

I'm wimp and a glug definitely is