Cycle Journal Part 2

[CezzaXV]

The forums don't wanna seem to let me edit my old journal (maybe it's too long/old now), so I'm creating this new thread to continue my journal here.

As some of you may seen me posting on the forums, I've been going through a crash and stall which took a while to diagnose and correct, but I hope that's behind me now.


Part one of my journal here.

Day 26 4/10/11
10.15AM - Ammonia 0.5ppm, Nitrite 0.5ppm
6.20PM - Ammonia 0.5ppm, Nitrite 0-0.25ppm.
10.50PM - Ammonia 0.5ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 40-80ppm, pH 6.4. I think I found the cause of why my cycle is grinding to a halt. Don't have any bicarb to hand so redosed 4ppm ammonia to boost the pH

Day 27 5/10/11
8.20AM - Ammonia 4ppm, Nitrite 1-2ppm, pH off the scale.
6PM - Ammonia 4ppm, Nitrite 1-2ppm, Nitrate 40-80ppm, pH 6.4. MASSIVE water change. Added 2ml ammonia and half a teaspoon bicarb.
7PM - pH off the scale, Nitrate 5-10ppm.

Day 28 6/10/11
8.15AM - Ammonia 2-4ppm, Nitrite 2ppm, pH 7.4-7.8. Put a small amount of bicarb in.
6.25PM - Ammonia 2ppm, Nitrite 2-5ppm, pH 7.9. (I was eager to see if the bicarb made a difference so tested as soon as I got home from work)
8.20PM - Ammonia 1-2ppm, Nitrite 2-5ppm, pH 7.8. Put a very small amount of bicarb in.

Day 29 7/10/11
11.50AM - Ammonia 0.25ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, Nitrate 80ppm+, pH 7.9. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.40PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, Nitrate 80ppm+, pH 7.8. Redosed 4ppm ammonia. pH off the scale.

Day 30 8/10/11
8.25AM - Ammonia 1.5ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, Nitrate 80ppm+, pH 7.4-7.8. Added a small amount of bicarb.
8.15PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, Nitrate 80ppm+, pH 7.8. Redosed 4ppm ammonia.

Day 31
8.20AM - Ammonia 1ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.8. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.20PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.8. Redosed 4ppm ammonia.

Day 32
9.20AM - Ammonia 0.25-0.5ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.8. Small amount of bicarb added.
3.40PM - MASSIVE water change as my wood apparently decided it wasn't done discolouring the water after all. Perameters before change: Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+. Perameters after change: Nitrite 2-5ppm, Nitrate 20-40ppm, pH 7.5. Redosed ammonia to 4ppm (which I probably shouldnt have done as it was 0 before and should have waited til evening testing, but too late now). pH 8.2.
8.30PM - Ammonia 1ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, pH 7.8. Added a small amount of bicarb.

Day 33
9.45AM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.8. Added a small amount of bicarb.
6.25PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.4. Redosed ammonia to 4ppm.

Day 34
8.30AM - Ammonia 0.5ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.8. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.30PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, Nitrate 80ppm+, pH 7.8. Redosed 1.5ml ammonia to 4ppm, pH 8.2.

Day 35
8.15AM - Ammonia 1ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.4. Added small amount of bicarb.
7.50PM - MASSIVE water change. Pre-change stats: Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, Nitrate 80-160ppm, pH 8.2. Post change stats: Nitrite 1ppm, Nitrate 10-20ppm, pH 7.2 Redosed ammonia to 4ppm.

Day 36
8.15AM - Ammonia 0.5ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, pH 7.0. Added small amount of bicarb.
9.10PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, pH 7.8. Did some further research and decided it's best to do half doses of ammonia until I get 12 hour double zeroes. Redosed ammonia to 2ppm. pH 7.8.

Day 37
8.15AM - Ammonia 0.25ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, pH 7.8 Small bit of bicarb.
8.20PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm, Nitrate 40-80ppm, pH 8.0. Redosed 0.75ml of ammonia to 2ppm.

Day 38
8.20AM - Ammonia 0.25ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 7.4. Added small bit of bicarb.
8.20PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 39
10.40AM - Ammonia 0.25ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 8.0.
5PM - MASSIVE water change. Pre-change stats: Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 5ppm+, pH 8.2. Post change stats: Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite ~1ppm, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.40PM - Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite ~1ppm, pH 7.2. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 40
8.15AM - Ammonia 0.25ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
6.40PM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 7.8. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 41
10.25AM - NI 5ppm, pH 7.8. Added small amount of bicarb.
8PM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 7.3. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 42
8.15AM - NI 5ppm+, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.20PM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm+, pH 7.8, NA 80ppm+. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 43
6.30PM - Massive water change. Pre-change stats: Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm+, NA 80-160ppm, pH 7.8. Post change stats: NI 0.25ppm, NA 10ppm, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.10PM - Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 44
8.15AM - Am 0ppm, NI 2ppm, pH 7.2.
8.20PM - NI 2ppm, NA 20-40ppm, pH red? Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.
9.15PM - Feared for the high pH so did a 20L water change. Post change stats: Am 0.5ppm, NI 0.5ppm, NA 20-40ppm, pH 8.0. Redosed 0.25ml ammonia.
10.50PM - pH 7.8.

Day 45
8.15AM - Am 0ppm, NI 2-5ppm, NA 40ppm, pH 7.4. Added tiny amount of bicarb. pH 7.8.
6.25PM - NI 2-5ppm.
8.25PM - Am 0ppm, NI 2-5ppm, NA 40ppm, pH 7.8 Redosed 0.75ml ammonia. Am 1-2ppm, pH 7.8.

Day 46
8.15AM - Am 0-0.25ppm, NI 5ppm+, NA 40-80ppm, pH 7.8.
8PM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm+, NA 40ppm?, pH 7.8. Did a 20L water change. NI 2-5ppm, NA 20-40ppm, pH 7.8. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia. pH 8.1.

Day 47
8.15AM - Am 0.25ppm, NI 5ppm, NA 40ppm, pH 7.0. Added tiny amount of bicarb, pH 7.2. Added a tiny bit more but did not have time to retest.
6PM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, NA 40-80ppm, pH 8.1. 20L water change. NI 0.5ppm, NA 40ppm, pH 7.8. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia. pH 8.0.

Day 48
8.25AM - Am 0ppm, NI 2-5ppm, Na 40ppm, pH 7.1. Added tiny amount of bicarb.
6.30PM - Replaced my old Marina S15 filter with a brand new Fluval 205! I like it!
8.20PM - NI 1-2ppm, pH 7.2. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 49
8.25AM - Am 0-0.25ppm, NI 5ppm+, NA 40ppm?, pH 6.8. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.15PM - Am 0ppm, NI 2ppm, NA 20-40ppm, pH 7.2. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.
10.40PM - pH 7.8.

Day 50
8.15AM - Am 0.25-0.5ppm, NI 2-5ppm, NA 40ppm, pH 7.0. Added small amount of bicarb.
7.10PM - NI 1-2ppm
8.30PM - Am 0ppm, NI 1ppm?, NA 40-80ppm, pH 7.6? Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 51
8.15AM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
6.10PM - NI 0-0.25ppm.
8.25PM - NI 0ppm, pH 7.8. Redosed 0.75ml ammonia.

Day 52
8.15AM (Clocks went back last night so this is 13 hours since the last test) - Am 0ppm, NI ~2ppm, pH 7.6. Added tiny amount of bicarb,
5.40PM - NI 0ppm.
6.25PM - Massive water change. Post change stats: NA 40ppm, pH 7.4 (I already knew that Am and NI were at 0 and there's none in my tapwater).
7.15PM - Redosed 1.5ml ammonia. Am 2-4ppm. (This is 24 hours after last evening test due to clocks going back)

Day 53
10.10AM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 6.9. Added small amount of bicarb.
5.45PM - NI 0-0.25ppm.
8.15PM - NI 0ppm, pH 7.2. Redosed 1.75ml ammonia. Am 4ppm, pH 8.3?

Day 54
8.50AM - Am 0.5ppm, NI 5ppm+, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
2.45PM - NI 2-5ppm.
4.35PM - NI 1-2ppm.
6.50PM - Am 0-0.25ppm, NI 0.5-1ppm, NA 80ppm?, pH 7.8. Redosed 1.75ml ammonia.

Day 55
9.00AM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
1.00PM - NI 0.5ppm.
2.50PM - Added a large handful of tiny shells and some floss to the filter. Not expecting or hoping for a massive increase in water hardness because of the shells, but the worst that can happen is it has no effect. I've reserved some cories at the LFS now, so I'm getting them next week whether my tank's ready or not.
8.15PM - NI 0ppm, pH 7.8. Redosed 1.75ml ammonia.

Day 56
8.15AM - Am 0ppm, NI 5ppm, pH 7.2. Added small amount of bicarb.
6.30PM - NI 0ppm. 60% water change. pH 7.4, NA 20ppm.
8.15PM - Redosed 1.75ml ammonia.

Day 57
8.15AM - Am 0ppm, NI 2-5ppm, pH 6.8. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.20PM - NI 0ppm, pH 7.8. Redosed 1.75ml ammonia.

Day 58
8.15AM - Am 0.25ppm, pH 7.2, NI 5ppm. Added small amount of bicarb.
5.50PM - Redosed 1.75ml ammonia.

Day 59
8.15AM - Am 0ppm, NI 0.25ppm, pH 6.8. Added small amount of bicarb.
8.20PM - NI 0ppm, pH 7.4. Redosed 1.75ml ammonia and a tiny amount of bicarb (hopefully for extra buffering)

 

[HayzH]

try to make sure you test at exact same time every 24 hrs.. i know its hard, but this will give true result of whats happening. looking better already though

 

[CezzaXV]

I do try, but it's hard. Personal life gets in the way most of the time. I do my best to make sure that my testing/redosing times are the same in the evening as that's what really counts (except on Tuesdays where I have to do it early because I'm out). The mornings are just monitoring really.

 

[HayzH]

agree...

I am so eager to see double 0's in the AM atm.... was doing it in 14.5 hrs...until T2 went nuts!

 

[CezzaXV]

I had double zeroes once. Just the once

 

[CezzaXV]

Updated the last few days. I like how you can tell which days were my days off from work by the time of the morning tests.

 

[CezzaXV]

Ammonia readings seem to be slowing down. The nitrates are pretty high though, so big water change for me when I get home from work tonight. Glad I ordered that massive bottle of prime now!

Argh, I hate water changes so much.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Argh, I hate water changes so much.

Better get used them you will be doing alot more when fish are here, i would even go so far to say if you hate them now i would consider another hobby before you spend £££ on fish. Over time water changes do get boring and a chore then you will start missing them, but hateing them before you have fish maybe not the best signs

 

[CezzaXV]

I don't mind water changes when they're the little one or two bucket types, but emptying the whole tank is a bit of a task. Can't imagine what it must be like for people who have massive tanks.

It's just one of those things that's gotta be done though. I've never had a hobby where there wasn't at least one element of it that I didn't like.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I much prefer doing a water change on the 350L then the 100l.

One hose from the 350L into the garden to suck out 50% then another hose from the tap into the tank job done

The 100L means buckets and measure prime out

lol

 

[CezzaXV]

The tube on my siphon isn't long enough to reach my window unfortunately. I thought about getting one, but I reasoned that my 10L bucket represents a sizeable chunk of my tank volume and I probably wouldnt change more than that in one go once I've got fish due to differences between tank and tap pH, so I knew I wouldnt need such a long hose once I'm done cycling. I'm beginning to regret this decision now

 

[CezzaXV]

Update!

 

[CezzaXV]

Another update. Done a few water changes recently, my tank is officially minging now

In other news, I'm trying to get hold of a new filter. I've already picked out what I want (a Fluval 305), it's just a case of trying to find one at a price I like.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Might as well go 306 there no real price different unless you going 2nd hand

 

[CezzaXV]

Bought myself a 205 in the end (wasn't 100% convinced that the 305 wouldn't be too much flow so decided to err on the side of caution).

I am getting really tired of waiting now, this is so tedious. I think my tank is processing nitrite much faster than it was before, but I'm just fed up of waiting now