Fishless Cycle - Confused!

[keithbrown53]

Hi there

I've been trying to do a fishless cycle since 26/10.

It's a 35l Biube. Only plastic plants. API test kit (liquid one).

Here are the readings. Where there are dates missing, I have not run any tests...where there are only ammonia measurements, I didn;t do the

26/10/2010 Added 15 drops ammonia. Tested ammonia. Reading about 4.
29/10/2010 Ammonia 4.
03/11/2010 Ammonia 4.
07/11/2010 Ammonia 4.
08/11/2010 Added 40ml of nutrafin cycle.
09/11/2010 Added 20ml of nutrafin cycle.
10/11/2010 Added 20ml of nutrafin cycle.
12/11/2010 Ammonia 4.
17/11/2010 Ammonia 2.
20/11/2010 Ammonia 2.
22/11/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrate 10, Nitrite 0.
23/11/2010 Added 10 drops ammonia
24/11/2010 Ammonia 8, Nitrate 5, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6 - 7.8.
26/11/2010 Ammonia 8, Nitrate 10, Nitrite 0
26/11/2010 Small water change to bring ammonia down
26/11/2010 Ammonia 4.
27/11/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0.

What's confusing me, is that whilst my ammonia is decreasing, I have not seen any rise in Nitrites...my impression of the cycle is that I should see Nitrites, and then nitrates.....so why am I getting nitrates, but no nitrites?

Comments welcome.

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[Uriel]

equally confusing is that 15 drops took you from 0-4 ammonia where as 10 drops took you from 0.5 to 8.

 

[waterdrop]

Are you rinsing the test tubes well? following all the instrucs? making sure you are using the correct test reagents?

What are your media materials? Any resins (chemical media?)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[toc]

Hi,

you say "26/11/2010 Small water change to bring ammonia down" why bring the ammonia down from the results its clear the ammonia is being use up the resultant would be Nitrite and by the resultant level of Nitrates looks like your almost there, I'd check your Nitrite kit or readings though but it could be that they are being converted before you see the spike, as you haven't said

was the tank seeded ?
do you have plants/organic matter in the tank ?

hope helps, but looks like your pretty much done to get a huge amount of nitrate is great as this means its working


"my latest test in fish-less cycling has been to use a far less amount of ammonia than current recommended and so far have proven successful but i need to do more tests, also I save on the kits and test only 50% of the samples" - I don't recommend you do any of these until you are confident with what you are reading in your tests.

 

[anon02]

In my opinion this tank is stil in phase 1, there have been no nitrite readings and the nitrate readings have risen and fallen for no apparent reason

Also in my opinion you are seeing nitrates before you are seeing nitrites because you are not performing the tests in strict accordance with manufacturers instructions

You will get more accurate results if you use the calculator at the top of the page to obtain the correct dosage of ammonia for your tank volume then add that dose at the same time each day ( after the first dose has fallen to zero ppm)

If you are consistent with your dosing and testing it will be easier for members to follow your progress and offer advice

 

[the biffster]

whats you ph

 

[waterdrop]

There was a single 7.6 to 7.8 pH reading but that will need to be re-checked every few days since the KH is unknown. It would be good to report temperature keith (if you are still there) and note that ammonia is better re-dosed on the 24-hour mark, but only if ammonia dropped all the way to zero (or very close) within some point in the previous 24 hours. This helps to make the readings more understandable over time, as discussed in anon02's well-stated post.

~~waterdrop~~