Happy Ending

[Dorsal]

the ammonia I used was wal-mart branded. clear bottle purple wrapper. labeled "clear ammonia" I however and 1.5 weeks into a fishless cycle and still am not zeroing completely out in 24 hours on ammonia and my nitrites are OFF the scale same with nitrates.

Did you use the method where you bring it up to a measured 5ppm ala the sticky link in this forum?? Sounds like you may have put too much amonia in. All amonias vary in concentration, that's why the spike it up to 5ppm method and put that amount in each day is such a good idea.

 

[Sky042]

the ammonia I used was wal-mart branded. clear bottle purple wrapper. labeled "clear ammonia" I however and 1.5 weeks into a fishless cycle and still am not zeroing completely out in 24 hours on ammonia and my nitrites are OFF the scale same with nitrates.

Did you use the method where you bring it up to a measured 5ppm ala the sticky link in this forum?? Sounds like you may have put too much amonia in. All amonias vary in concentration, that's why the spike it up to 5ppm method and put that amount in each day is such a good idea.

No I've been going a little higher. I purposely started at 8ppm which is why my cycle is taking longer.


However on a side note I see your PH is 7.3 yet you keep adding PH down?
You also note an algae outbreak. you really don't need to adjust your PH from 7.3 it's fine. Also the PH down could be one of the root causes of the algae FYI. I'd discontinue the PH down treatement unless the PH raises significantly.

 

[Dorsal]

the ammonia I used was wal-mart branded. clear bottle purple wrapper. labeled "clear ammonia" I however and 1.5 weeks into a fishless cycle and still am not zeroing completely out in 24 hours on ammonia and my nitrites are OFF the scale same with nitrates.

Did you use the method where you bring it up to a measured 5ppm ala the sticky link in this forum?? Sounds like you may have put too much amonia in. All amonias vary in concentration, that's why the spike it up to 5ppm method and put that amount in each day is such a good idea.

No I've been going a little higher. I purposely started at 8ppm which is why my cycle is taking longer.


However on a side note I see your PH is 7.3 yet you keep adding PH down?
You also note an algae outbreak. you really don't need to adjust your PH from 7.3 it's fine. Also the PH down could be one of the root causes of the algae FYI. I'd discontinue the PH down treatement unless the PH raises significantly.

Thats very interesting. The reason I was putting phdown in was to reduce the ph to 7, which I thought was optimal??Isn't 7.3 too high??

If that's the case, then I could discontinue it. I've been adding algaefix, and have cut down the hours the light operates. It's 5 days since I cleaned it and I have noticed that the whole thing is starting to turn green again

At least the fish seem happy

 

[Sky042]

the ammonia I used was wal-mart branded. clear bottle purple wrapper. labeled "clear ammonia" I however and 1.5 weeks into a fishless cycle and still am not zeroing completely out in 24 hours on ammonia and my nitrites are OFF the scale same with nitrates.

Did you use the method where you bring it up to a measured 5ppm ala the sticky link in this forum?? Sounds like you may have put too much amonia in. All amonias vary in concentration, that's why the spike it up to 5ppm method and put that amount in each day is such a good idea.

No I've been going a little higher. I purposely started at 8ppm which is why my cycle is taking longer.


However on a side note I see your PH is 7.3 yet you keep adding PH down?
You also note an algae outbreak. you really don't need to adjust your PH from 7.3 it's fine. Also the PH down could be one of the root causes of the algae FYI. I'd discontinue the PH down treatement unless the PH raises significantly.

Thats very interesting. The reason I was putting phdown in was to reduce the ph to 7, which I thought was optimal??Isn't 7.3 too high??

If that's the case, then I could discontinue it. I've been adding algaefix, and have cut down the hours the light operates. It's 5 days since I cleaned it and I have noticed that the whole thing is starting to turn green again

At least the fish seem happy

If you read this forum more you'll find that a .3 change in PH isn't as important as maintaining a steady PH your fish will be quite fine and adapted to it.

 

[Dorsal]

the ammonia I used was wal-mart branded. clear bottle purple wrapper. labeled "clear ammonia" I however and 1.5 weeks into a fishless cycle and still am not zeroing completely out in 24 hours on ammonia and my nitrites are OFF the scale same with nitrates.

Did you use the method where you bring it up to a measured 5ppm ala the sticky link in this forum?? Sounds like you may have put too much amonia in. All amonias vary in concentration, that's why the spike it up to 5ppm method and put that amount in each day is such a good idea.

No I've been going a little higher. I purposely started at 8ppm which is why my cycle is taking longer.


However on a side note I see your PH is 7.3 yet you keep adding PH down?
You also note an algae outbreak. you really don't need to adjust your PH from 7.3 it's fine. Also the PH down could be one of the root causes of the algae FYI. I'd discontinue the PH down treatement unless the PH raises significantly.

Thats very interesting. The reason I was putting phdown in was to reduce the ph to 7, which I thought was optimal??Isn't 7.3 too high??

If that's the case, then I could discontinue it. I've been adding algaefix, and have cut down the hours the light operates. It's 5 days since I cleaned it and I have noticed that the whole thing is starting to turn green again

At least the fish seem happy

If you read this forum more you'll find that a .3 change in PH isn't as important as maintaining a steady PH your fish will be quite fine and adapted to it.

Oh no, that's the last thing I need is an excuse to spend more time on forums!!!

I will leave the phdown out next time and see if it stabilises below 8 and see how we go There is an excellent sticky in the TF Emergency forum

 

[Dorsal]

Thanks for the suggestions all

I have cut back the hours that I run the light from 14 to about 8, and the water is now crystal clear I have read the excellent sticky topic on ph in the TFE forum, and I will see how the ph goes without adding phdown.