150L Cycle Log

[boogybaz]

Right, brand new tank, some great advice on here already and my testing kit has arrived. Managed to get ammonia from Homebase, so we are all set for tonight.

Tank has been filled for about a week now, so readings of that when I get home...

Quick question though, I have been declorinating the tank as per the bottle instructions, should I also test that before I start cycling to check?

 

[Miles_hot]

Sorry, test what?
I assume you added dechlorinator once when you filled the tank?
Miles

 

[boogybaz]

Sorry, test what?
I assume you added dechlorinator once when you filled the tank?
Miles

Sorry, yes I did add dechlorinator, how do I test that it is enough?

 

[Katch]

You don't need to. As long as you follow the bottle's instructions it will be fine.

 

[Miles_hot]

+1 - the amount on the bottle is fine. Sometimes people suggest adding x2 that amount in case the water company is flushing the pipes with extra. Frankly I tend to always add more as it is hard to overdose, the amounts are so small that measuring is a challenge and it's not expensive enough to worry about vs damage to the bacteria colony.

If you're especially interested there are fairly cheap electronic testers on the market which will tell you if there is any chlorine left : http/www.hannachecker.co.uk/

HTH

Miles

 

[boogybaz]

Thanks

Well, did a base test, no ammonia, Nitrites and just a little Nitrates, PH 7.4

Ammonia added, just got to keep testing it daily now..

 

[Miles_hot]

Use the first week or so to get slick at the tests - it is unlikely that you'll see any massive movement Remember to test at a time when you can use day light to view the colours and think ahead a little to a time in 1 - 2 months when you might still be cycling (if you're unlucky like us) so testing at 20:00 is a bad idea for instance...

 

[boogybaz]

24 hours after adding 5ppm Ammonia, we have 4ppm on the test with no nitrates.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Use the first week or so to get slick at the tests - it is unlikely that you'll see any massive movement Remember to test at a time when you can use day light to view the colours and think ahead a little to a time in 1 - 2 months when you might still be cycling (if you're unlucky like us) so testing at 20:00 is a bad idea for instance...

12 hourly testing in winter, in daylight, in uk, is impossible so just do your best.

 

[boogybaz]

No change again tonight, still 4ppm Ammonia...

 

[boogybaz]

Still no change.. day 4

 

[boogybaz]

Day 5 in the tank, still no change..

Looking at other logs, might start seeing Nitrites over the weekend...

 

[boogybaz]

Day 7 and ammonia looks like no change but 0.25 Nitrites!! woohoo

 

[HayzH]

yep some Nitrites start showing usually on Day 7..now you will see the Ammonia drop slowly..good job

 

[boogybaz]

Should I also start getting algae? noticed a thin film on the suckers that hold the heater and pump pipes in place.