My Fishless Cycle

[Twinklecaz]

Thanks, I was only gonna get those 2 and they're only £5-£6 each so I can cope with that

 

[Twinklecaz]

I think my Nitrite has processed! I've put it in my log as 0 but after 5 mins the blue did have a very very faint purpley tinge in some lights. Really faint, certainly not as much as 0.25 but does this mean there's a trace still there or am I reading too much into it? and if this were to happen when I have the fish would that be a problem?

 

[PDSimon]

Was the colour more than your tap water? If so, I think it would be too much nitrite

 

[Twinklecaz]

I dunno, I'll test them together next time it's 0. It was a very brilliant blue at first, it was literally just the last min or so it happened. It was so faint I'm sure some people would say they couldn't see it.

 

[PDSimon]

Is it ok if I hate you slightly? I'm jealous! I want my nitrites to go down

 

[Twinklecaz]

Lol no, I actually felt bad for you when it first started to drop! Tho you never know, mine could still take ages till it does this in 12 hours and you'll still end up cycled before me. I have a week off in 2 weeks time and that would be the ideal time for me to get my plants and fish (have been planning to get the plants the day before it poss) if I can. But I dunno if it's gonna be that quick.

 

[PDSimon]

That would be perfect

Thats also what I plan on doing - planting the day before. I think it works because you do the big water change removing the stuff, add the plants, then the next day add the fish without any bicarb or anything left over

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah that was my thinking. I've found another LFS to check out when I have the chance too. Fingers crossed for this one!

 

[PDSimon]

are you testing your nitrites with an API test kit?

My nitrites have gone from a blue colour, to a sort of faded blue colour (i.e. from 0-5 minutes until testing).

but unlike my tap water, which is bright blue and matches the 0ppm perfectly, the tank water doesn't quite.

Do you think its just inbetween 0 and 0.25 like yours?

 

[Twinklecaz]

are you testing your nitrites with an API test kit?

My nitrites have gone from a blue colour, to a sort of faded blue colour (i.e. from 0-5 minutes until testing).

but unlike my tap water, which is bright blue and matches the 0ppm perfectly, the tank water doesn't quite.

Do you think its just inbetween 0 and 0.25 like yours?

Ooo yay! Yeah, I dunno. See my Ammonia has never been quite the same yellow as my tap water, definitely yellow and not the green of 0.25 though. I'm sure someone said somewhere that it's just the nearest colour and it doesn't have to be exactly the same which is why I've called them both 0.

Can anyone throw some light on this?

 

[PDSimon]

Yeah I think thats true although mine looks the same as tap

 

[Twinklecaz]

Luck you. See I knew you'd catch up, bet you still finish before me!

 

[PDSimon]

I think my nitrites are about the same as yours though (I hope!)



Your only a day ahead of me... strange coincidence that we're in the same position?

 

[Twinklecaz]

Lol it is isn't it. Though I think my Ammonia lasted longer and your Nitrite lasted longer.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yay, tonight's tests both Ammonia and Nitrite are 0 after only 24 hours (Nitrite definitely is this time). Very happy.

2 questions, 1: does this mean I should start testing at 12 hours now?

2: I've been dosing at 4/5ppm pretty much every time (except for a few random times). Should I not have been doing that coz I think I read someone say earlier that in the middle of your cycle you should only do up to 3ppm?