Adding Ammonia...

[ChilliPepper]

Well I added another teaspoon and it's brought my level up to 5ppm so I guess 3 tsp is the right measurement of ammonia for my tank.

What do I do now? Test again in a week to see if the ammonia has dropped and also test for nitrite?

Thanks for all advice

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it's good to start a routine of testing every day, at this stage testing once a day is plenty enough, eventually you'll want to test every 12 hours. Try and work out a suitable time to add ammonia when you can test it 12 hrs later most days, obviously this will depend on your routine but say you added ammonia at 10pm at night, you'd need to be able to test at 10am the next day by the end of the cycle so if you're at work at that time then it won't work. So work out whatever timings suit you but pick a point where you will be home to test after 12 hrs.


At this point you just really need to test for ammonia and for pH, write down the readings each day, then post back here in a couple of days time with all the readings so far and we'll let you know if anything else needs to be done or how it's progressing.

 

[ChilliPepper]

OK thanks very much Miss Wiggle, will do that

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with everything MW says there.

It sounds absurd to beginners but its wonderful later if you've made daily line entries in a logbook and then if you repeat many of those entries here in your thread. When things are going along as expected, your thread may not need updating or comments for stretches of time but when you have doubts or turning points, then post it up. Many of the members quite enjoy following along and other beginners gain more opportunities to learn.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ChilliPepper]

Hi all

Tested my water today and have got Ammonia at 2.4 and Nitrite at 0.3.... What's my next step? Add more ammonia to raise it back to 5ppm?

Thanks

 

[Miss Wiggle]

let the ammonia drop down to 0 then top it back up

 

[waterdrop]

let the ammonia drop down to 0 then top it back up

Yup, as MW says, wait for zero

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, both of you - should I top it back up to 5ppm?

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Thanks, both of you - should I top it back up to 5ppm?

yes top it back up to 5 once it has hit zero.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, both of you - should I top it back up to 5ppm?

yes top it back up to 5 once it has hit zero.

Thanks

Should I then test every day for ammonia and nitrite and when the ammonia falls back to 0 again, top up to 5ppm once more? When do I check for nitrate and how long will this process take do you reckon?

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Thanks, both of you - should I top it back up to 5ppm?

yes top it back up to 5 once it has hit zero.

Thanks

Should I then test every day for ammonia and nitrite and when the ammonia falls back to 0 again, top up to 5ppm once more? When do I check for nitrate and how long will this process take do you reckon?

yes test everyday it gets you into the routine. When the Ammonia starts being processed from 5ppm to 0ppm in 24hrs then start testing for ammonia every 12 hrs. Soon enough the ammonia will be processed from 5ppm to 0ppm in 12 hrs or less, however only add one dose of ammonia in 24hrs even if it is gone in the 12 hrs, that is when its worth testing for nitrite as that is the next stage but it wont hurt to test for that during this ammonia phase either.

Now you have a couple options you can carry on using your full dose of ammonia 5ppm or you can cut it down to 3ppm to keep nitrite levels down to a managable level for the Nbacs to develop. Too much nitrite can inhibit this, i found a 50% water change before the next dose of ammonia helped get the nitrite back to managable level as all the ammonia you have put into the tank during the 1st stage will have raised the nitrite to a extremely high level. Now test for Nitrites every 24hrs as it will take a little longer for the Nbacs to develop than the Abacs, keep an eye on the ammonia every 12 hrs still you should find that it will process easily as its half the dose you were doing. Also start testing for NitrAte this shows that nitrite is being processed.

Once nitrites are down to 0ppm in 24hrs start testing for them every 12 hrs like you do with the ammonia, but start increasing the ammonia back up to your full 5ppm dose over a few days. Remember only 1 dose of ammonia every 24hrs though!

I'm sure Mrs W or others will jumpin if i have forgotten anything. I am currently in the Nitrite stage waiting for it to process in 24hrs its taken a while buts its close to start upping my ammonia back up to my full dose

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks for your reply. I am a little confused though - it's all very scientific for me

So I need to:

1) Wait until current ammonia level drops to 0ppm.. What about the nitrite? Or not worry about that now?
2) Then raise ammonia level back up to 5ppm.
3) Test ammonia daily until it drops back to 0ppm within a 24 hour period.
4) Once it drops within this period I now need to test for nitrite every 24 hours.
5) Carry on adding ammonia at 3ppm?
6) Once nitrites are down to 0ppm within 24 hours I then test every 12 hours until they are down to 0ppm within 12 hours.
7) I add ammonia once every 24 hours to bring the level up to 5ppm.
8) Then start testing for nitrate?
9) Once ammonia and nitrite are processed within 12 hours am I cycled?
10) Large water change
11) Add fish?

Have I got it right?!

 

[ChilliPepper]

Also if I up the temperature (currently at 24c) and transfer my air pump from my other tank into this one, will it speed the bacteria growth up a bit?

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Thanks for your reply. I am a little confused though - it's all very scientific for me

So I need to:

1) Wait until current ammonia level drops to 0ppm.. What about the nitrite? Or not worry about that now
&
2) Then raise ammonia level back up to 5ppm.

Dont worry about the nitrite at the moment & yes when its down to 0 top it back up to 5ppm


3) Test ammonia daily until it drops back to 0ppm within a 24 hour period.

4) Once it drops within this period I now need to test for nitrite every 24 hours.

Yes then start testing ammonia every 12hrs & start checking nitrite every 24hrs
5) Carry on adding ammonia at 3ppm?

Once Ammonia starts processing in 12 hrs or less

6) Once nitrites are down to 0ppm within 24 hours I then test every 12 hours until they are down to 0ppm within 12 hours.

Yes spot on

7) I add ammonia once every 24 hours to bring the level up to 5ppm.

Yes but i would increase it over a few days

8) Then start testing for nitrate?

Yes just to re assure nitrite is being processed

9) Once ammonia and nitrite are processed within 12 hours am I cycled?

Yes but make sure over a week or a few days at least

10) Large water change
11) Add fish?

Yes and Yes but you need to do the adding fish pretty quickly to stop a large bacteria die off, ie same day as the water change

Have I got it right?!

Also if I up the temperature (currently at 24c) and transfer my air pump from my other tank into this one, will it speed the bacteria growth up a bit?

Stick temp up to 30c that will help and the extra oxygen will help to, just remember to lower the temp once the cycle is near finished

 

[ChilliPepper]

Excellent - thanks for your help!