Ask Questions About Cycling

[eaglesaquarium]

The easiest way to remember the breakdown TT is that 1 gram of water = 1 mL.  So, 1000 grams = 1 L.  20 grams of 1000 grams is 2%.

 

[TallTree01]

Thanks very much guys.

I think I'll add the fish according to location. Like I'll get the fish I can get locally first, then from one online store, then from the native fish specialist.

 

[SyedaAmbreenZaffar]

Hi,
 
I have almost 10.5 gallon fish tank. Is it ok to complete nitrogen cycle along with the fish???Or what precautions should i take during the process???
 
Thanks in advance,

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You should read this link:  http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first
 
Further, I'd add that the standard on this forum is that we recommend fishless cycling and never recommend fish-in cycling.  But, we do have two resources for fish-in cycling: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/433769-rescuing-a-fish-in-cycle-gone-wild-part-i/
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/433778-rescuing-a-fish-in-cycle-gone-wild-part-il/

 

[TallTree01]

I know that at very high concentrations of ammonia that bacteria cannot thrive but is the same true of nitrite? If I'm getting consistently high nitrite readings ( 5ppm ) should I do a water change to bring it down if the ammonia is only at 0.5? Should I do another ammonia dose?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I know that at very high concentrations of ammonia that bacteria cannot thrive but is the same true of nitrite? If I'm getting consistently high nitrite readings ( 5ppm ) should I do a water change to bring it down if the ammonia is only at 0.5? Should I do another ammonia dose?

 
Yup.  Exactly the same.  Do a reading of the cycling article.  TTA describes how to do a diluted test to see where the level really is.  And, it also mentions how high is too high, I think its about 16ppm on the ion scale (which is what API uses), but I can't recall.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Indeed, i believe that to be 16.4ppm on a API kit, but the API chart only goes up to 5ppm  
So doing a diluted nitrite test is pretty straightforward to do, i'd reccomend you to try this to find where your nitrite levels are.
 
Anything higher than 16.4ppm, you risk the cycle stalling or crashing.
 
 
On this fish in cycling article , you'll find " PERFORMING DILUTED NITRITE TESTING" which explains how to do this.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/433778-rescuing-a-fish-in-cycle-gone-wild-part-il/?hl=%2Bdiluted+%2Btests

 

[TallTree01]

Thanks guys, I'd not looked in the fish in cycling articles. I'll try to find some distilled water and do a diluted test today.
Out of interest, how high does ammonia have to be to stall the cycle? I'd assumed 8 ppm but now think about it I realize my logic was rather flawed.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I believe its about 14ppm (on API kit), but again, I can't remember.

 

[TallTree01]

Ok thanks Eagles.
So I got the distilled water. Gosh it was hard to find, the supermarket didn't have it so I visited 3 different chemists to find some. I've done the tests.
The ammonia was at 2-4ppm yesterday after I added 12 ml of my ammonia. Today it's golden at 0ppm. Which is great! 3 to 0 in 24 hours is perfect.
The nitrite is still high, I've not seen it move at all from 2-5 ppm.
Here's a picture of the tests I did. From left to right the concentration of tank water is shown: 100% 50% and 25%. In the bottom right you can see the ammonia test.


Where do I go from here? I take the nitrite to be a healthy amount for cycling as in it won't hurt the filter. Ought I to keep adding 3ppm of ammonia daily? Is now the time to ' snack feed ' as tta puts it in his cycling article?

 

[TallTree01]

I added some ammonia on the afternoon of yesterday and today both the ammonia and nitrite are a perfect zero! I'm done! Yay!
I'm going to do a water change today or tomorrow and then place my order for some fish. If the tank goes without an ammonia source for 4-5 days is that likely to damage bacteria? Should I snack feed during the week until the fish arrive?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Congrats

 
I'd do one snack dose of 1ppm ammonia in middle of those 5 days.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Congrats

 
I'd do one snack dose of 1ppm ammonia in middle of those 5 days.

 
Yup.  

 

[Ch4rlie]

Thanks guys, I'd not looked in the fish in cycling articles. I'll try to find some distilled water and do a diluted test today.
Out of interest, how high does ammonia have to be to stall the cycle? I'd assumed 8 ppm but now think about it I realize my logic was rather flawed.

 
 

I believe its about 14ppm (on API kit), but again, I can't remember.

 
Sorry to go back on this but am a little confused, 14ppm of ammonia?
Is that how much ammonia would stall the cycle, i actually thought it was less, in fact thought 6 or 7ppm ammonia would do that to make over 16.4ppm nitrite........ but this depends on variables of course, i.e planted tank or not, pH and temps etc

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

Thanks guys, I'd not looked in the fish in cycling articles. I'll try to find some distilled water and do a diluted test today.
Out of interest, how high does ammonia have to be to stall the cycle? I'd assumed 8 ppm but now think about it I realize my logic was rather flawed.

 
 

I believe its about 14ppm (on API kit), but again, I can't remember.

 
Sorry to go back on this but am a little confused, 14ppm of ammonia?
Is that how much ammonia would stall the cycle, i actually thought it was less, in fact thought 6 or 7ppm ammonia would do that to make over 16.4ppm nitrite........ but this depends on variables of course, i.e planted tank or not, pH and temps etc
 

 
The stall can happen for various reasons, including but not limited to excess ammonia, excess nitrite, insufficient inorganic carbon.
 
I believe the threshold for AMMONIA (and not how it relates to anything else) is about 14ppm ammonia on the API scale (total ion).  I could be mistaken about that, but that is what I remember.  (not that my memory is all that great.)