3Rd Week Of My Cycle

[Jamie24]

Hi guys just some advice needed please or reassurance as it was.. I'm into the third week of my fishless cycle, I dosed ammonia to 5ppm & after 11 days it finally processed it to 0, I re-dosed it to 4ppm that was processed in three days & so on.

My 3ppm ammonia is now being processed within 24hrs & I'm re-dosing daily to again 3ppm, I've just ran out of stress zyme as I've used that to speed up the process & I often add bi-carb to keep the PH at around 8 but my nitrites are showing no signs of dropping after 4 days or so & was just wondering is that normal as the Ammonia is now being processed quickly.

Thanks

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Expect anything up to 20 days (or more) total for the nitrite to fall back to zero, from when you first saw nitrite, if you continue to dose ammonia daily. It's an imprecise science so that's only a guide.

By the way, 11 days is fairly long for the first part of the cycle which would normally happen in about seven days and I put that down to the use of stress zyme. It contains bacteria which compete for nutrients, oxygen and surfaces on which to attach with the bacteria you actually want. I know how it's promoted (before you make that point) but I don't believe it.

 

[doresy]

The bacteria that processes nitrite take twice, if not 3 times as long to develop than the bacteria that processes ammonia so stick in there my friend

I'm thinking to start processing 5ppm of ammonia down to zero in just 11 days is amazing (and unusual) even by starting with mature media (which I reckon you MUST have done)

I would suggest that you use nothing now except the re-dosing of ammonia until you see the nitrite drop (which, going by what you have stated so far, will happen in time.......be patient!)

Well done so far!

 

[Jamie24]

The bacteria that processes nitrite take twice, if not 3 times as long to develop than the bacteria that processes ammonia so stick in there my friend

I'm thinking to start processing 5ppm of ammonia down to zero in just 11 days is amazing (and unusual) even by starting with mature media (which I reckon you MUST have done)

I would suggest that you use nothing now except the re-dosing of ammonia until you see the nitrite drop (which, going by what you have stated so far, will happen in time.......be patient!)

Well done so far!

I haven't used mature media at all, just the ammonia & stress zyme, plus a bubble bar, 32 temp & bi-carb to raise PH

Thanks guys great help.

 

[HayzH]

my last tank was over 120 days and still only processing Nitrite to 1ppm....so think you're doing incrediably well.

 

[littlenemo]

jamie keep at it mate. my ammonia was dropping from 3 to 0 for 2 weeks and nitrites would not budge. but yesterday i did a 20 cent water change and now my ammonia and nitrites a 0ing in 12 hours so fingers crossed its ready. so keep at it as every one on here told me the nitrites will drop over night and they did.

 

[Jamie24]

Hi again guys.

Coming up to the 4th week of my cycle (Friday) 3ppm of ammonia is now getting processed in about 18hrs but Nitrate still shows no signs of dropping, PH is 8.2 as I added some bi-carb today & it's just a waiting game.

To get myself prepared for the next step I need some advice, I'm aware you should keep the cycle going for about 5 days after it's technically complete to ensure everything is going smoothly but what I want to know is at what point before I get fish should I do the big water change & stop adding the ammonia ??

Also exactly what do I clean, I know everything gets rinsed in old aquarium water but for example my filter (in the hood) has brown stains that can be wiped of with just a finger... are these just simply dirty marks or should I be leaving this alone ?? and I now have small circle like mounds of brown stuff which looks like grit on the sand, I know this will go with a good vac but I'm just curious as to what it is ??

Thanks again.

 

[Jamie24]

Has my cycle stalled ??

The ammonia reading seems to have stuck at 0.05ppm & has been that way for two days

 

[littlenemo]

Jamie what temp is your water at??

 

[riogal_11]

Hi again guys.

Coming up to the 4th week of my cycle (Friday) 3ppm of ammonia is now getting processed in about 18hrs but Nitrate still shows no signs of dropping, PH is 8.2 as I added some bi-carb today & it's just a waiting game.

To get myself prepared for the next step I need some advice, I'm aware you should keep the cycle going for about 5 days after it's technically complete to ensure everything is going smoothly but what I want to know is at what point before I get fish should I do the big water change & stop adding the ammonia ??

Also exactly what do I clean, I know everything gets rinsed in old aquarium water but for example my filter (in the hood) has brown stains that can be wiped of with just a finger... are these just simply dirty marks or should I be leaving this alone ?? and I now have small circle like mounds of brown stuff which looks like grit on the sand, I know this will go with a good vac but I'm just curious as to what it is ??

Thanks again.

I'm assuming you mean your nitrItes haven't fallen, because your NitrAtes won't fall until you do the water change.
I didn't do a 5 day wait after my tank cycled, I did it the next day. You need to add ammonia up until the day you get fish. I did my water change a few hours before I put my fish in, so all the levels were perfect.
With the brown stuff on the filter, are you talking about the outflow part being brown? Mine is too, and I'm assuming it's good bacteria, so I leave it. Since the bacteria can grow on anything like that, I'm guessing it's not anything harmful, so it won't hurt to leave it.

 

[Aqua Tom]

If it is an internal filter then the brown stuff on it is algea, not bacteria.


Tom

 

[Jamie24]

Jamie what temp is your water at??

32, it's been that from the start tho

 

[Jamie24]

Right folks.

Just tested my water & my Nitrite has dropped to zero for the first time 7 I'm now asking what steps to take next ??

Ammonia - zero
Nitirte - zero
Nitrate - 20ppm
PH 7.6 (Due to Bi-carb)
Temp - 32

So what are the next steps, I've added ammonia again to 3ppm but I now need more advice... will I be ready for fish next Sunday ??

 

[HayzH]

you need to see 0 for Ammonia and Nitrite for at least 7 days (qualifying week) Nitrates usually go sky high, but the initial w/c before adding fish deals with that x