Day 14 Of The Fishless Cycle......

Hello everyone!

Its day 14 (in the big brother house!) of the fishless cycle. I did my tank test a few moments ago and its come back as the usual colour of 4.0ppm...or so i think.

I am using the API test kit (liquid kit). When I record my results, I hold the test tube up against the white - not straight flat against it - and it appears to be 4.0ppm. Altho when i hold the test tube flush up against the white of the card - it looks 8.0ppm.

Is the way i hold the test tube correct? Just curious as its been 2 weeks now with no change to ammonia. I havent had to add any ammonia in the water for 2 weeks as its still on 4.0ppm

i just sort of hold it up against the white. have u any nitrite yet. and whats your ph. lee

Ammonia: 4.0ppm

PH: 7.6

PH High: 8.0

Nitrite: 2.0 - 5.0ppm (the colour is too similar to tell!)

Nitrate: 5.0

xx

Yep they seem right ammonia must be being processed. Haveli have nitrite and nitrate. Just keep at it it will start going down faster and faster mine took 14 days to drop now taking 15 hours.

It's interesting that you've got nitrite and yet your ammonia hasn't budged. It may be that you've got something in the tank that's rotting - plants perhaps?

+1, its strange you have the starting readings for Ammonia, yet something is being processed. Can you post a pic of all of your API results? (They're notoriously hard to read in some light anyway!)

Thats what i thought. I havent added any more ammonia since day 1 as it hasnt moved - but yet im getting readings of Nitrite and Nitrate. I havent got any plants in there - they are waiting in a pot till the cycle is complete. All i have in there is sand (which was washed through thoroughly) Pebbles and a rock (Which were washed too).

I did have a bit of wood in there, but had to take it out and do a full water change on the tank because it leached out something chronic. Thats been in a bucket of water for the 2 weeks i have been cycling, and i wont be putting it back in till the cyling is compelete. (the plants will be going in then aswell). I have carbon filters - and they are looking a bit brown due to the log i had in there before. I didnt change them as i was told that it wouldnt be a problem. Could it be something to do with the brown of the filter? The ceramic noodles and the sponge part of the filter are fine.

Any help and next step advice would be great if you know. xx

ps: will definitly post a pic a bit later tonight when i do my next water test!

It might be the crud in the filter from the wood breaking down, yes.

The amount of ammonia coupled with pH is critical to the cycle. Anything below pH 6 or above 8 will crash the cycle, and ammonia levels over 8ppm can produce the wrong type (or "inefficient") of bacteria.

I dont think you have a major issue here really, every tank is different, and some people have had to wait over a month for it to even get moving, so your ahead of the game if anything.

I would recommend trying to get an exact reading for ammonia, to ensure its around or as close to 4 as possible. If its still definitely 8ppm, do a 50% water change to get it own to 4 (test again after). The fact you have nitrite and nitrate is great, but they;re not as important right this second.

Ben

The chances are you're making errors reading the ammonia test, i.e. it probably was above 4ppm but is now at 4ppm which means the ammonia is being used up and explains why you now have nitrite. So your first stage bacteria are now doing what they're supposed to be doing and you can expect a proper fall in ammonia and an increase in nitrite.

Here are pictures of my PH levels and Ammonia. Next post will have the others as I cant fit them all on.
WOAH! didnt realise how big they would be!



Nitrite


Nitrate

Well the ammonia looks like a definite 8ppm and the nitrite a definite 5. I wonder if you actually dosed the ammonia to just over 8ppm originally and it's now down to 8ppm, so some has been used up? Did the nitrite test drop turn dark purple immediately when it hit the water?

I think you win the prize for giant test tube picture of the month though! (the prize is a picture of a giant test tube )

and lastly, my ph high! I turned the grid upside down so you can see it clearer!

Clearly i have been reading my ammonia totally wrong as its only when its been enlarged on here that i can clearly see that its at 8.0ppm instead on 4.0ppm

Prime Ordeal said:

Well the ammonia looks like a definite 8ppm and the nitrite a definite 5. I wonder if you actually dosed the ammonia to just over 8ppm originally and it's now down to 8ppm, so some has been used up? Did the nitrite test drop turn dark purple immediately when it hit the water?

Click to expand...

No it didnt. I made sure i looked out for that especially - but it didnt turn purple when it hit the water.

Yup, you got 8

Water change time.

The rest looks really good, nitrite off the chart at nitrates coming in. I would imagine the purple on the nitrite came throug hpretty quickly after adding the solution? Your on your way!

Get that ammonia down to 4ppm (50% chnage) and then wait. Test each day and as soon as it hits 0.25ppm or 0, redose. Keep doing so until it can consume the 4ppm dose inside 24 hours, then switch to 12 hr dosing. As soon as it can take 4ppm in 12 hours, keep going for a week. this is your "qualifying week". If it keeps doing it for a week, your done!

Congrats

Mowbz said:

Yup, you got 8

Water change time.

The rest looks really good, nitrite off the chart at nitrates coming in. I would imagine the purple on the nitrite came throug hpretty quickly after adding the solution? Your on your way!

Get that ammonia down to 4ppm (50% chnage) and then wait. Test each day and as soon as it hits 0.25ppm or 0, redose. Keep doing so until it can consume the 4ppm dose inside 24 hours, then switch to 12 hr dosing. As soon as it can take 4ppm in 12 hours, keep going for a week. this is your "qualifying week". If it keeps doing it for a week, your done!

Congrats

Click to expand...

Thats fantastic! I was really expecting to be told I had to start again! ha! Will do a 50% water change tomorrow and test the water after the change. Thank you so much for your help. Will keep you up to date with what happens!

And i definately agree with about - i think i do deserve an awrd for the biggest testubes! ha!

Thought I would send an update!

I have completed my 50% water change. I left the tank to 're-filter' for 30 minutes before I did a new ammonia test. Please stand by for my MAAAAAAAAAAAASIVE test tube picture of the ammonia in my tank after the water change.



It still looks pretty dark - Am i right to think that this time it is actually 4.0ppm? or is it still wavering on the higher levels? It seems to be slighter lighter then before, but not by much. I havent had to re-add any ammonia back into the tank. Im hoping that during 24 hours I will see some sort or reduction in ammonia!