Fish-Less Cycle Diary

[mata]

Day 10 and theres change... I'm so happy, the last 10 days have felt like an age, but then it is only the first step. Thanks all again for the advice so far and roll on the next stages in the Ammonia dropping.

 

[PDSimon]

You're very welcome...

You'll get more used to the test results but if i'm honest 2-5 on nitrite is bloody useless, same for 3/4 of most of the colour cards! What you sort of recoginise is whether its going up or down.

 

[mata]

Day 11 and 12 results added. Looking good for the Nitrate tonight, its gone up anyway. PH of the water has gone down though and the Ammonia hasn't gone down much if at all in the last few days. Should I be worried?

 

[PDSimon]

Just keep an eye on it for now

 

[mata]

Strange results today, Ammonia gone down, PH dropped suddenly and nitrate dropped. So will test again first thing in the morning to see if there is any change.

Any ideas on why this is?

 

[PDSimon]

Sometimes lots of nitrites affect the nitrate results.

Your pH has dropped considerably, very quickly so i'd advise a water change, 75% (or anything to bring it up to above 7 for now)

Can you get ahold of any bicarbonate of soda? not baking soda). Its often used to bring up ph and hardness and makes it easier than doing waterchanges tesco, sainsburys etc will have it

 

[mata]

Ok thanks, yea iv got some of that in, so could do that, what kind of amount should I use, its a 70 liter 18.5 gallon tank.

 

[PDSimon]

if your pH is 6.6?

i'd put in about three quarters of a tablespoon measure and see where that gets you

I think a tablespoon is about 15ml if that helps.

 

[mata]

Ok well did a 75% water change today at half 3, took tests before and then just now at 9.30. The water change did the trick, added Prime to hte water and also re-dosed with 3.5ml of Ammonia.

Will do tests again tomorrow as usuall and keep an eye on things.

Thanks again for saving me!!!!

 

[mata]

New results from yesterday and today added, messed up Nitrate test but at the moment its not too important. Good thing is Ammonia is going down, Ph is still dropping a bit though over the last 2 days, but will keep an eye on it and maybe do a water change/bicarbonate soda treatment in hte next few days.

If I use bicarbonate soda, what are the consequences of this later on? Does it stay active in the tank for ages, so big water change before fish go in or does it just dissapear?

 

[PDSimon]

Well basically... everyone does a 100% waterchange before they add fish and this will remove it. some very very very small traces of it may remain but the fish you initially add will not be affected by it.

if you have bicarbonate of soda ready (ensure that there are no added ingredients) then it might be a good idea to add it soon because for one, its dropping .6 in a day so its quite a change and the bicarb should make it stable to a degree...

 

[mata]

Excellent thanks for that, makes sense now I think of it.

Do i put in 15ml like you said a few posts up? Or slightly less since the Ph isn't as low?

 

[PDSimon]

Well if its 7.4... Add 1/3 of a tbsp and see what that does. If its still not 8, dose appropriately to that (or just ask me again! )

 

[mata]

Thanks yet again! I added 1/3tablespoon/5ml of soda, will test tomorrow and see what its at.

 

[mata]

The Bicarbonate Soda did the trick, Ph back up to 8.2 and Ammonia has dropped down another notch. Hopefully tomorrow night will re-dose Ammonia and Ph will stay above 8.0