My Fishless Cycle Log, Got A Result Today, Jumpiing With Joy!

[pdludbrooke]

18/03
new start added seachem then 3ml ammonia

First few readings taken with nutrafin Ammonia and nitrite £10.99 each

19/03 5.30pm
ammonia 1.2-2.4
nitrite 0.1

20/03
ammonia 0.6
nitrite 0.3
dosed another 2ml ammonia
1 hour later ammonia reading 2.9-4.9

21/03

ammonia 1.2-2.4
nitrite 0.1-0.3

22/03
API kit arrived tests as follows

PH 7.6
ammonia 2.0ppm
checked my tap water too 0.0ppm
Nitrite in tank 0.0ppm
Nitrate tap water 40ppm
Nitrate tank 40ppm

Realised no need to read PH and Nitrate

23/03

Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrite 0.0ppm

24/03

Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrite 0.0ppm

25/03

ammonia 1.0ppm
nitrite 0.25ppm

26/03

ammonia 1.0ppm

Nitrite 0.5ppm

added 2ml ammonia

after 1hour ammonia reads 4ppm

18/03
new start added seachem then 3ml ammonia

First few readings taken with nutrafin Ammonia and nitrite £10.99 each

19/03 5.30pm
ammonia 1.2-2.4
nitrite 0.1

20/03
ammonia 0.6
nitrite 0.3
dosed another 2ml ammonia
1 hour later ammonia reading 2.9-4.9

21/03

ammonia 1.2-2.4
nitrite 0.1-0.3

22/03
API kit arrived tests as follows

PH 7.6
ammonia 2.0ppm
checked my tap water too 0.0ppm
Nitrite in tank 0.0ppm
Nitrate tap water 40ppm
Nitrate tank 40ppm

Realised no need to read PH and Nitrate

23/03

Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrite 0.0ppm

24/03

Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrite 0.0ppm

25/03

ammonia 1.0ppm
nitrite 0.25ppm

26/03

ammonia 1.0ppm

Nitrite 0.5ppm

added 2ml ammonia

after 1hour ammonia reads 4ppm

It's starting!!!! yippee

 

[mattyeatsmatts]

Congrats, I remember checking the Ammonia everyday until I left if for a while and whoosh....my nitrites are off the chart and im waiting for them to complete

 

[pdludbrooke]

Congrats, I remember checking the Ammonia everyday until I left if for a while and whoosh....my nitrites are off the chart and im waiting for them to complete

MY readings today are

Ammonia 2.0ppm
Nitrite 5.0ppm
PH 8.2

I added 1.8ml ammonia yesterday, things are starting to move, yippee!!!

 

[CezzaXV]

Congrats! I would recommend still testing your pH, as a precautionary measure. I got to a point in my cycle where everything was slowing down and eventually it had stopped. I had stopped measuring pH because it was always the same. Took me a long time to realise that my problem was my pH had plummetted while I wasn't watching and my cycle had stalled. Monitoring your pH means you can spot it early if your pH does start dropping and you can add some bicarb to get it back up if need be.

 

[KittyKat]

I recommend that you stop adding ammonia or reduce the rate at which you do until nitrites start to drop or you will not be able to monitor the nitrite readings and when they start dropping quickly, the likelihood of a pH crash (which may lead to a cycle stall) will be higher.

 

[pdludbrooke]

I recommend that you stop adding ammonia or reduce the rate at which you do until nitrites start to drop or you will not be able to monitor the nitrite readings and when they start dropping quickly, the likelihood of a pH crash (which may lead to a cycle stall) will be higher.

Stop adding ammonia ???
my readings today are

Ammonia 0.5ppm- 1.0ppm

Nitrite over 5.0ppm (very purple)

PH 8.2

added 1.0 ml ammonia to bring it up to 2ppm

Is this ok ?
Should I stop adding ammonia till I get zero and then start again to half the dose to bring it up to 2.0ppm ?

Thanks for your help

Congrats! I would recommend still testing your pH, as a precautionary measure. I got to a point in my cycle where everything was slowing down and eventually it had stopped. I had stopped measuring pH because it was always the same. Took me a long time to realise that my problem was my pH had plummetted while I wasn't watching and my cycle had stalled. Monitoring your pH means you can spot it early if your pH does start dropping and you can add some bicarb to get it back up if need be.

Thanks I will, and have, also the nitrates do I need to check these ?
My tap water has 40ppm nitrates anyway, I'll need to have loads of plants in there.......