Cycle Diary... Finished @ Day 127!

[martinking]

Ok so the mature media is in and its definitely made a difference of some kind!

My Nitrites and Nitrates have shot up... Ammonia seems to be processing pretty quick too, I think its about a 16 hour turnaround on the 5ppm of Ammonia.

Ive updated Day 20 now!

 

[waterdrop]

Good, so you have to picture that you'll now want the bacteria in the mature media you put in to have time to multiply and migrate to the surfaces of your existing biomedia in the filter. Of course, you just keep on keeping on and doing the fishless cycle as you've been doing it, but your results should continue to go better.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[martinking]

Good, so you have to picture that you'll now want the bacteria in the mature media you put in to have time to multiply and migrate to the surfaces of your existing biomedia in the filter. Of course, you just keep on keeping on and doing the fishless cycle as you've been doing it, but your results should continue to go better.

~~waterdrop~~

I meant to ask, I am getting a fluval 205 external filter tomorrow as the internal one is taking up to much room and I would prefer to over filter and have a spare. Would transferring my media and adding new biomax into the other trays going to make me delay at all?

Cheers

 

[martinking]

My pH has dropped to around 6 again today, this is getting silly, im doing 90% water changes at least once a week, what am I doing wrong?

Do I need to do another one tonight now? Or is there anything else I can do?

Cheers

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Martin,

If your pH is dropping so frequently, it is a sign that your water has very little buffering capacity (also known as alkalinity or carbonate hardness).

To avoid the pH drops you need to raise the carbonate hardness (kH). There are several ways to do this, but the best way for your circumstances would be to either add some crushed coral or coral gravel to your filter, or add baking soda to the water.


Adding coral to the filter is a more long-term solution, but will take longer to have an initial effect. Baking soda will work instantly, but the effect wears off pretty quickly and you need to keep adding more.

Maybe a combination of both to begin with would get the best of both worlds.

Hope that helps you.

BTT

 

[Bobtastic]

The quickest way for you to increase the KH, especially as you're doing a fish-less cycle is to add baking soda. That should also increase the overall pH of the water a bit too.

As I understand it carbonate hardness (KH) is the ability of your water to hold it's pH whilest other elements are being introduced to it (e.g. ammonia, nitrites and the like).

 

[martinking]

How much do I need to add to sort the problem out?

and do I still need to a do a water change?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bobtastic]

I don't really know tbh. You could try a little experiment while waiting for ~waterdrop~ to come along with the official measurements. Start off with like a tea spoon, mix it in and test the pH and add a little more if there is no visible effect. If you go over board and the pH shoots through the roof you can always do a 100% water change.

I imagine you're better off going a little bit at a time to start off, which seems to be the general way of doing anything with tropical fish. Start slowly and have patience.

 

[martinking]

So I dont need to do a water change just manually alter the pH with the Bicarboanate Soda?

 

[Bobtastic]

I believe so, but I'm not 100% sure. You could do a partial water change to get the pH back up and then add the baking soda to bolster the KH to buffer against any future pH changes?

 

[martinking]

Yeah I was just really trying to avoid another water change but if need be!

 

[backtotropical]

If you are adding baking soda, the water change isn't required. The purpose of the water change is to replenish the carbonate hardness of the water and raise the pH. The baking soda will do the same thing.

A water change won't hurt by any means, but if you are using Bicarb a water change isn't required.

 

[martinking]

Thanks very much everybody for your help, should I aim to get the pH around 8-8.4?

Cheers

 

[backtotropical]

Yes, that is the ideal pH range for cycling.

 

[martinking]

Ill give that a shot tonight! Thanks