Am i doing this right??

[fishyyy]

My fishless cycle:

Day 1: Not tested
5 drops oh ammonia added
Day 2: Ammonia- .75
10 drops added
Day 3: Not tested, no ammonia added
Day 3: Am: .75
50 drops of am.
Day 4: Am: 5.0
50 drops of am.
Day 5: Am: about 6 or 7
50 drops of am. added
Day 6: Not tested
54 drops of am.
Day 7: Am: 7 or 8
47 drops
Day 8: Am: 7 or 8
Didnt add ammonia
Day 9: Didnt test
Didnt add ammonia


I test for ammonia about 24 hrs after adding it, and i add ammonia right after testing it.
When should i start testing for nitrite?
Am I doing this right so far?

 

[Nisha]

You should test for nitrItes every few days. After a few days (or maybe even few weeks) you should see your nitrIte level slowly rise, peak and then start to drop off. As the nitrIte is dropping, you should start testing for nitrAtes. Your nitrAtes will begin to rise and your nitrItes will continue to fall. Once your nitrite is at "0" your tank is cycled and ready to go.

 

[Shooter]

To add onto this, I have started the fishless cycling of my 26 gal bowfront. I have the ammonia and the test kit. After reading the above articles regarding this form of cycling, I note that I do not have one of the suggested sources for bacteria (gravel from an established tank, live plant, etc), yet I already have slightly cloudy water (been set up and running for 4 days). Does this cloudiness represent a bacteria "bloom", and therefore negating any need for me to seek one of the above mentioned sources of bacteria, or could it be something else?

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[fishyyy]

Ok, thanks.

 

[Nisha]

Fishyyy : Glad to help!

Shooter : If you're already fishless cycling you don't necessarily need the additional bacteria via gravel etc., though it might speed up the process. You could just follow the cycling to it's conclusion and your bacteria will have established in your tank.

Hope this helps.