First Tank

[Comacchio]

Day 18.

Ammonia: 3-5ppm
Nitrite: 0.3-0.8ppm
Nitrate: 10-20ppm
pH: 7.5-8
temp: 30

Not much change =( This is going to be one of the 100-200 day cycles, I can feel it.

 

[Comacchio]

Still not too much to report and nearly day 21. Getting worried! Here's some bad images of my tests. I've got an API kit waiting at the post office to collect in the morning since I dont quite like the vagueness of these test charts. Ammonia is yellow, nitrite purple.

The ammonia reading looks a bit lighter in the day. I added 11ml to my 200L tank (which when I think about it is a tad much since I forgot to measure for the substrate etc) which should be around 5 ppm. Which after 21 days hasnt dropped all that much has it?

 

[Comacchio]

Done a 20% water change to bring the ammonia levels down. Readings for today are:

pH - 7.6
Ammonia - 2-3ppm
NitrIte - 1ppm
NitrAte - 10 ppm

Hopefully will be easier to spot changes now.

In other news, my bogwood doesnt seem to be leaching as much tannins now, so may go in the tank next week!

 

[Comacchio]

Ph seems to have fallen to high 6s low 7s and ive not got any bicarb and local shops are out of it. Hope it doesnt affecf my already deathly slow cycle too much!

 

[Comacchio]

Is it just me or is 24 days and no zero ammonia reading a little bit off?

 

[downinthedumps]

Mine is doing the same. Nearly 4 weeks and no shift in ammonia.

 

[Comacchio]

Mine is doing the same. Nearly 4 weeks and no shift in ammonia.

I see its getting you down in the dumps

Day 25:

pH 7.5
Ammonia - 3-4ppm
NitrIte - 0.5 ppm
NitrAte - 20 ppm

Cmon ammonia go to zero

 

[Comacchio]

Day 26: 21/9, 15:00

pH - 7.4
Ammonia - 2-3ppm
NitrIte - 0.25-0.5ppm
NitrAte - 30 ppm

NitrIte seems to be dropping faster than Ammonia. Peculiar.

 

[Comacchio]

I have no idea whats going on with my cycle.

Ph seems to have dropped to 6.5
Ammonia is at 2 ppm
Nitrite has hit 0 ppm
Nitrate is still 30ppm.

Im thinking about a 95% water change tomorrow and redosing to 5ppm ammonia.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ph seems to have fallen to high 6s low 7s and ive not got any bicarb and local shops are out of it. Hope it doesnt affecf my already deathly slow cycle too much!

Well in all honestly it will slow your cycle. It needs to be as close to 8 a possible.

Where are you situated UK, USA, EU etc?
Maybe someone has some spare Bicarb near you.

 

[lucasluke]

I have no idea whats going on with my cycle.

Ph seems to have dropped to 6.5
Ammonia is at 2 ppm
Nitrite has hit 0 ppm
Nitrate is still 30ppm.

Im thinking about a 95% water change tomorrow and redosing to 5ppm ammonia.

1 teaspoon of bicarb in there soon... as soon as PH gets into the 6's it slows down severely. 8 is best.

ammonia is now dropping as we can see. keep going at it.

 

[Comacchio]

Put in 2 teaspoons of bicarb to raise the pH to 8ish. Since im away for the next 4 days I added 3ml of ammonia to bring the ammonia levels closer to 5ppm just so that the bacteria have something to do.

Again there was no nitrite. Ill check back in on monday evening.

 

[lucasluke]

Put in 2 teaspoons of bicarb to raise the pH to 8ish. Since im away for the next 4 days I added 3ml of ammonia to bring the ammonia levels closer to 5ppm just so that the bacteria have something to do.

Again there was no nitrite. Ill check back in on monday evening.

Great - hopefully it does something by the time your back!

 

[Comacchio]

Day 30: 26/9/11

pH: 7.5
Ammonia: 0.25-0.5 ppm
NitrIte: 0.5 ppm
NitrAte: 80 ppm

PROGRESS! I don't know how fast the ammonia dropped but it was dosed to around 5 ppm on Friday and by Monday it was down to nearly nothing. Do I wait until there is nothing or redose to 4-5ppm now?

 

[Tizer]

redose, you never know when its going to drop to exactly 0