Fishless Cycling Help Please

[pern]

You can put your temperature up to 30 degrees : )

 

[Aqua Tom]

You can put your temperature up to 30 degrees : )

+1

 

[Flubberlump]

That's what I thought. Thanks!

 

[Flubberlump]

This morning: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.6. Will the nitrite bacteria recover from the stall in time? How long will that take if so? Or will the 2nd stage of the cycle need to start again?

I've redosed the ammonia to 3ppm.

 

[Flubberlump]

So, this morning: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.6, nitrate off the scale, pH 8.

So it seems that whilst the nitrite doesn't look to be increasing, it certainly isn't going down. It looks like some of it is being processed, really hope it speeds up again as it was so close to being finished!

Ammonia redosed to 3ppm.

 

[pern]

Good to hear there's something happening again : ) Sometimes cycling feels like it's taking forever but you'll get there.

 

[Flubberlump]

Thanks it's so frustrating as I was ready to start the validation week when I got home! Now I have to wait again.

 

[Flubberlump]

Tonight there's no ammonia but nitrites are still high. Does anyone know whether the 'nitrite bacteria' will recover from the stall? Or will they need to build a new colony? I know the answer won't make things happen any faster, it's purely so I understand what's going on in there!

My pressurised co2 equipment came today so I'm raring to go lol!

 

[Flubberlump]

The nitrite is still there this morning.

The pH has dropped to 7.5. I know this is still high enough for the bacteria, but I'm wary about letting it drop too far before adding bicarb. I'm guessing that it will drop gradually over a few days as more nitrate is produced due to nitrate being acidic. Is that right? Or will it suddenly plummet?

Should I add a small amount of bicarb now to keep it stable? Or wait for it to get a bit lower? Or should i just do a water change to prevent it dropping again at all?

 

[Flubberlump]

Sooo I was wondering, would it be ok to put plants in now? I know the cycle hasn't finished, and that plants will consume some of the ammonia and nitrite rather than bacteria, but they'll do that anyway if I put them in after the cycle has finished, and the bacteria colony will have to adjust accordingly. The plants will only use a certain amount of the toxins, they won't start using any more or any less one the cycle has finished and the fish are in (until they grow) so surely it can't do any harm? The amount of ammonia I'm dosing will still provide more for the bacteria than the fish will produce even once the plants have consumed some.

As mentioned I now have all of my pressurised co2 equipment so there should be no problems with algae.

Does anyone have any experience with plants in a cycling tank?

 

[Aqua Tom]

Sooo I was wondering, would it be ok to put plants in now? I know the cycle hasn't finished, and that plants will consume some of the ammonia and nitrite rather than bacteria, but they'll do that anyway if I put them in after the cycle has finished, and the bacteria colony will have to adjust accordingly. The plants will only use a certain amount of the toxins, they won't start using any more or any less one the cycle has finished and the fish are in (until they grow) so surely it can't do any harm? The amount of ammonia I'm dosing will still provide more for the bacteria than the fish will produce even once the plants have consumed some.

As mentioned I now have all of my pressurised co2 equipment so there should be no problems with algae.

Does anyone have any experience with plants in a cycling tank?

I put some plants into my tank when it was cycling, I am convinced it prolonged the process.

Tom

 

[Flubberlump]

Hmm, that's the last thing I want. Thanks Tom.

 

[Flubberlump]

This morning: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.1 (!!!), pH 7.5.

The nitrite was off the scale last night so it's come right down over night. Very encouraging. I've dosed back up to 3ppm, and will see what the readings are tonight.

 

[Flubberlump]

Last nights parameters: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.6.

This morning: nitrite 0.3, pH 7.5.

 

[Flubberlump]

Last night: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.6.

This morning: nitrite 0.8, pH 7-7.5.

Had to test a few hours early today as I'll be out all day.

Will test the pH again tonight as it seems to have dropped slightly.