Fishless Cyclin

[steve_b21]

So let me get this right. Once the Ammonia is being processed in 24hrs, do i continue to top it up and then start testing for Nitrate?

 

[backtotropical]

What will happen is this

Now that you have ammonia processing bacteria, your ammonia will start processing faster and faster as the bacteria multiply.

At the same time, you will notice that nitrite will go through the roof (as a by-product of the ammonia being processed) and will eventually start to come down again as the nitrite processing bacteria multiply. Start testing for nitrite now.

You need to keep adding ammonia through this process each time it gets down to 0. Once nitrite has spiked and then came back down, you should be able to add ammonia to 5ppm then test 12 hrs later and have 0 for ammonia and 0 for nitrite.

That is when you are cycled. You can ignore nitrate until you are cycled.

Hope that helps.

 

[ktricky]

right i have my ammonia processing in less than 12hrs do i add ammonia every time it reaches 0 or just once aday ?

 

[backtotropical]

You should always have ammonia present, so you should really add it every time it reaches 0.

 

[ktricky]

thats what i thought but was told that it only needs to be done once a day

 

[steve_b21]

Date / Ammonia/Nitrite

23 3
24 1
25 1 0.25
26 5 0.5
27 3 1
28 1 2


Ammonia has dropped from 5 to 1 in a few days. Now its on 1, should i top up? Or wait till tomorrow and then top up back to 5?

 

[backtotropical]

You can top it back up if you wish. So long as there is always ammonia there, you can top up as often as you like.

Can you see your spike happening? Ammonia going down, turning into nitrite.

This will continue until nitrite goes off the scale and then it will start to come down again.

Keep up the good work, Steve.

 

[steve_b21]

Ammonia gets converted to Nitrite, which in turn gets converted to Nitrate.

Is this correct? Makes more sense as i am actually doing it, rather than just reading about it like ive been doin the past few months.

 

[backtotropical]

Ammonia gets converted to Nitrite, which in turn gets converted to Nitrate.

Is this correct? Makes more sense as i am actually doing it, rather than just reading about it like ive been doin the past few months.

Spot on!

 

[steve_b21]

How does this look...

Should the Nitrite eventually go down to 0?

Thanks

 

[marcan]

The nitrite will go down to 0.

You have a nitrite spike because nitrite are not processed yet by the bacteria. Wait a few days and the nitrite will go down.

You're doing good.

 

[steve_b21]

I am having to top up my Ammonia twice in 24hrs now. My Nitrite reading has gone off the chart... (NOTE FOR API TEST KIT USERS: When you add the drops, if they immediately turn purple in the bottom of the tube, your nitrites are off the chart high. You do not need to shake the tube and wait 5 minutes. If you do, the color will turn green as the nitrites are so high that there isn't a color to measure them with. )

How many days/weeks do you think it will take for the Nitrite to drop? Taking in account i have been Cyclin my tank for nearly 6 weeks already... taking nearly 4 weeks to notice any drop in ammonia.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Steve,

Your ammonia bacteria are ready, you are just waiting on the nitrite munchers to catch up now.

How long are you waiting between adding ammonia and testing for nitrite levels?

BTT

 

[steve_b21]

Hi Steve,

Your ammonia bacteria are ready, you are just waiting on the nitrite munchers to catch up now.

How long are you waiting between adding ammonia and testing for nitrite levels?

BTT

Hi, well i added ammonia before i went to work at 10am. Just got back now and level has dropped to 1, so ive topped the ammonia back up. Tested for Nitrite immediatly and it is still showing off the chart.

Is what im doing correct?

 

[backtotropical]

Seems fine. It's just a case of waiting for those nitrite eating bacteria to multiply. Those often are a bit slower than the ammonia eating bacteria. You should find that once it actually starts to come down, it will do so reasonably quickly.

Keep your chin up and stick at it. It won't be too long.