Cloudy Water/ammonia Question

[Aquascaper]

Depends on how mature the filter is with specific bacteria so there's no set timescale. At the end if the cycle you should see the ammonia drop from 4ppm to zero in 6 - 12hrs.

 

[Porky p]

]Ok, so I needn't worry if it now takes days to drop? But once it does I should take it back up to 4ppm until its taking between 6-12 hours to go back down! And the nitrite is 0 and nitrate is 0-20ppm? Am I right

 

[Aquascaper]

Pretty much spot on

 

[Porky p]

Great help cheers! Will post when anything significant changes.

Thanks again

 

[DrSlackBladder]

Don't expect your nitrates to be 0-20ppm after dosing to 4ppm ammonia each day; they will be sky high. Mine were around 80-100 ppm at the end of the cycle, but a big water change at the end of the cycle to get you to 10-20ppm will be ok.

 

[Porky p]

I see so once my ammonia is converting to nitrIte and my nitrIte is being converted into nitrAte they should read
Ammonia - 0
NitrIte - 0
NitrAte - whatever

Then do a large water change and I'm ready for fish.
Thanks

 

[Porky p]

Nightmare, randomly my ammonia levels have gone up over night and I have no idea why! It's gone to eight