Brand New Tank, Bacterial Bloom?

[eaglesaquarium]

This is often the most difficult part of the process...  You are so close, yet you are not done yet.

 

[TheRandomHero]

Tell me about it lol... shall I continue to add 2-3 ppm of ammonia to feed the AOBs? Or should I give it a day or two to let the NOBs catch up before adding more? Any guesstimates on typical NOB colonising times? Just need something to feel like I'm getting somewhere...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'd keep adding 2-3ppm, and just remain patient... maybe two weeks before you hit the 12 hour mark... Probably you'll get double zeroes in a few more days.

 

[TheRandomHero]

Thanks mate. Just added 3ppm of Ammonia again. Anything the NOB's like that I could do to improve? I've set the temp to 30-31'C because I know they like it warmer, but what about aeration/surface disturbance? Would this speed up/hinder the development?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

They like Oxygen...  The temp is actually a bit high.  I always aim for 84F, which is more 29-30C.  They also like higher pH... So, that could help...  Mainly they just need some time.  It will happen, it just doesn't happen overnight.

 

[TheRandomHero]

3 Days of Fushia so far.

 

[TheRandomHero]

Just did a test along with a 1ml/4ml diluted test. Although it took longer to turn, it shortly turned the same fuschia colour Meaning my Nitrites are ridiculously off the charts...

 

[TheRandomHero]

Good News
 
I've been dosing 4ppm of ammonia every 24 hours while waiting to see a change in nitrites. I was starting to lose faith because everytime I tested it was a deep purple. Today I felt like doing more accurate results....
I took 5ml of tank water in one phial, 1ml tank / 4ml tap in another, and 2.5ml tank / 2.5ml tap in the third.
5ml - 5+ ppm
1:4ml - 0.50-1.0 (I'd say 0.75 would be accurate.)
2.5:2.5 - 2 ppm pretty much bang on
 
Meaning my Nitrites have actually dropped significantly from the 25+ ppm a week ago i was getting from a 1ml:4ml test At a guess I'd say they're around the 5-6ppm mark right now.
 
I smell success looming... 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Good news. 

 

[TheRandomHero]

SKY BLUE BABYYYY!
 
Added another 4ppm yesterday afternoon after posting, and just did my tests.
 
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - 80
 
I don't wanna jinx it but I think I'm done!!
 
I guess the final thing is to dose 4ppm now, and then check both again at bedtime.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Congrats!  Every 12 hours is the next goal.

 

[TheRandomHero]

Ok so 12 hours on, ammonia is 0 and Nitrites are about 2ppm so not quite at the 12 hour mark yet.
 
What's the best way from here? Let the bacteria sort ALL the Ammonia > Nitrate before redosing, or just put 4ppm in every 24 hours and retest 12 hours after dosing until it is zero?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You only ever dose ammonia every 24 hours.  So, keep dosing at the appropriate time, and test at 12 hours.  If you are down to 2ppm nitrite at this point, you should be getting double zeros in 12 hours rather quickly, because as you saw, they were able to catch up to the AOBs production, so it really shouldn't be that long now.

 

[TheRandomHero]

Just an Update!
 
I reached the 12 hours mark for 0/0 on thursday, and redosed friday morning to check and friday night we were back at 0/0

 
Today we went to get our first fish and came home with 3 Peppered Corys and 5 Harlequin Rasboro's

 
So far tank and fish are all doing great, and they're so beautiful to watch! Thankyou for all the help, Especially eaglesaquarium as he has been constantly helping from Day 1. If there is a way I can 'Upvote' you as a member let me know and I will do it!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No worries.  I'm glad it has worked out for you.  Very good choices in fish.  Both prefer larger numbers in their groups.... 6 is considered the minimum.   Keep a close watch on the ammonia and nitrite while you are building up the bioload.  It should remain zero, but sometimes immature tanks will have a spike after adding fish.  If it happens, relax and complete a 50% water change.