Kmur's Cycle Journal

[kmur]

I would like to start this post by saying: I SWEAR I AM NOT CRAZY.

I know enough about chemistry to know that all of my results don't make much sense. Which is as unsettling to me as it is unreassuring to you. I wash and rinse obsessively after every use, and I always test twice to verify results.

That being said:

Yesterday:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 5PPM or higher
Nitrate: 20PPM
pH: 8.2

Added 4PPM ammonia

Today:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20PPM
pH: 8.2

My only theory here is that nitrate was definitely not ABOVE 5PPM, but that still seems like a suspicious drop.

I think I am going crazy. I think, at this point, I will start reading a lot of other cycle logs to try and make sense of things. I am also going to start testing on the 12 hour mark as well.

 

[waterdrop]

Here's a possible thought, if you're really a research junkie and the money doesn't turn out to be a problem. Why not search out the various web sites and see if you can locate some individual Salifert test kits and perhaps get the NH3, NO2 and NO3 kits. Sure would be interesting to see those results side-by-side. I know they are available by web in the US and I'm quite sure other members have obtained them easily in the UK.

WD

 

[kmur]

Here's a possible thought, if you're really a research junkie and the money doesn't turn out to be a problem. Why not search out the various web sites and see if you can locate some individual Salifert test kits and perhaps get the NH3, NO2 and NO3 kits. Sure would be interesting to see those results side-by-side. I know they are available by web in the US and I'm quite sure other members have obtained them easily in the UK.

WD

Looks like they're about $14 a pop. It will be something to consider if things don't start making sense soon

Not that it really matters anymore, but:

Yesterday (12 hours after adding ammonia,)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 5ppm or above

This morning:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: .25ppm


It it even possible for nitrates to drop from 5ppm to near 0? If so, I guess that I am in the third part of the cycle. If not, I may start taking water samples to the LFS and having THEM test them for a few days, so I can try to figure out where the heck my results are getting skewed.

My initial goal at the beginning of the process was to get fish just after new years. I'm not so sure I am going to meet that goal anymore.

 

[waterdrop]

When you are near the end of the second phase of fishless cycling the nitrite readings can indeed bounce around wildly like that. (I apologize, I have never been able to piece together a coherent cycling log from your posts although the info may be there and it may just be me being too rushed ) WD

 

[kmur]

When you are near the end of the second phase of fishless cycling the nitrite readings can indeed bounce around wildly like that. (I apologize, I have never been able to piece together a coherent cycling log from your posts although the info may be there and it may just be me being too rushed ) WD

Data organization was never my strong suit! I swear it's all there. Maybe I will work on making my data in to a more readable form!

Today, we're at double-0s again. Score.

 

[kmur]

My cycle has turned drama-free, so that's good.

We're now at a point where, on my 12-hours-after-ammonia testing, there's no ammonia and very little nitrite.

I'm just gonna keep on truckin' 'till I get there.

 

[waterdrop]

Sounds good kmur, sounds like you are in the last stage. Keep an eye on the pH and for excess nitrates. Sometimes a weekend full water change can help the process near the end like this and be good practice for the weekly gravel-clean-water-changes that will soon start. WD

 

[Skins]

sounding good, fingers crossed for double zeros soon.

Keith.

 

[kmur]

Double-0s today

So, from what I gather, if I can continue to get double-0 for a week, I'm about ready for fish. Correct?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, 5ppm dropping to double zeros at 12 hours for a week and you should be planning the aquisition and logistics of your big water change and first stocking during this week.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

Something that might help explain your numbers is plants Kmur. No amount of chemistry knowledge will ever account for the missing nitrogen in a tank, but a few plants and some good lighting will. Another thing that readily accounts for not converting to nitrates is that nitrate testing demands a good understanding of the kit you are using. The nitrate test that most of us use is a 2 chemical one. Unfortunately, one of the chemicals precipitates rather easily so a dedicated test methodology that always ensures adequate mixing before adding the chemical reagent to the test tube is a must. I always double the suggested time before adding the chemical just to make sure that I am getting a well mixed reagent. By doing that, I find that my results make far more sense than when I simply follow the mixing directions in the kit.