Really Need Advice About My Cycel ( Tank That Is )

[stacey3272]

Ok I have been cyclling for 9 weeks.



My ammonia run its course in 12 hours nno problem. My nitrites have been cycling thru in about 13 hours. for atleast a week or more. I just tested my Nitrates and they are off the chart. So I have all three things doing there work. If I can not get the nitrites to move off 13 hours what do I do


Should I stop adding ammonia and add a few fish and see how it goes?

When I did a nitrite test on my tap water there was a bit present. Do I need to take that in to consideration?


Any suggestion would really help.

 

[This Old Spouse]

What are you using to test?

 

[stacey3272]

What are you using to test?

apo maybe is the brand of liuid test kits. for all the different things

 

[OldMan47]

I would say that you are done, The difference between 12 hours and 13 hours is meaningless IMO.

 

[stacey3272]

I would say that you are done, The difference between 12 hours and 13 hours is meaningless IMO.

That is what I was kinda thinking. I know if you do not get the same amount of ammonia each time the time seems to change any ways....I should do a big water change now before I would add any fish. I am scared the last time i did that during the cycle my Nitrites went off the roof I have not idea why..... If it does it again. what does a person do then. This sure is a gamble for the most part at some point I think. Its like get some fish and let it buck ...

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I would say that you are done, The difference between 12 hours and 13 hours is meaningless IMO.

That is what I was kinda thinking. I know if you do not get the same amount of ammonia each time the time seems to change any ways....I should do a big water change now before I would add any fish. I am scared the last time i did that during the cycle my Nitrites went off the roof I have not idea why..... If it does it again. what does a person do then. This sure is a gamble for the most part at some point I think. Its like get some fish and let it buck ...

The nitrates will never be less than what you have in your tap water (unless the level in your tank is lower than that - not the case here) so test your tap water to know what the minimum level you can achieve at the moment.

Then do a full water change, right down to the gravel. Make sure you match the temperature of the new water to the tank water.

If the pH of your tap water is substantially lower than your tank water, say more than 0.5 pH points, then add bicarb to the new water to raise its pH to that of the tank. By doing both these things you reduce the risk of knocking the filter back (like you did previously), although it should normally recover anyway within a few days.

 

[stacey3272]

Ok this does make sence. I think when I did a water change It was 3/4 and not all the way. I do not think I matched any water temps I did not think it mattered when you did not have fish in there

I am adding a better air stone for more air today and a second hearter I do not think it is hot enough. I am at 81. somthing. I read it needs to be water for bacteris to grow better. I will retest all my tap water for Nitrates and nitrites and ph to see again what I am starting with. I know i have NITRITES but not sure on the NiTRATES.



I am so close . I hope changing a few things here helps me out. I new it would take a while But I am not feeling the love when just taking cae of a empty tank.. Thank for all your suggestions and responce. I can see its going to be a day of fish tank care. Good day for it. Its a very raining day here in MN.

 

[stacey3272]

Ok I hve come up with a little game plan...

First I tested my tap and tank levels again.


Tank Nitrites .25 Nitrates 0 Ph 6.6
Tank Nitrites 1.0 Nitrates 8 or 10 very very red Ph 6.0


I see my ph needs to be higher and that could be a little problem. So I looked for this bicarb everyone says to add to higher it. My local pet shop does not have any. Is there some household I can add. Other wise I need to oder online. So I need to get that up I knkow.

I need to heat it up a bit I think. Its running 81.9 I think I have read it needs to be a bit higher. Adding more aireation. I plan on doing a full water change. making sure i have the warer temp as close to that 81.9 as I can when readding water. I read to do little water changes during the cycle is that soemthing to do.

I add about 8.Ml ammonia ro so every 24 hours to a 55 gallon tank. I think it brings it up to a 3 little under 4 .. any more suggestions.

 

[pdludbrooke]

Ok this does make sence. I think when I did a water change It was 3/4 and not all the way. I do not think I matched any water temps I did not think it mattered when you did not have fish in there

I am adding a better air stone for more air today and a second hearter I do not think it is hot enough. I am at 81. somthing. I read it needs to be water for bacteris to grow better. I will retest all my tap water for Nitrates and nitrites and ph to see again what I am starting with. I know i have NITRITES but not sure on the NiTRATES.



I am so close . I hope changing a few things here helps me out. I new it would take a while But I am not feeling the love when just taking cae of a empty tank.. Thank for all your suggestions and responce. I can see its going to be a day of fish tank care. Good day for it. Its a very raining day here in MN.

I hope you get it all sorted!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Ok I hve come up with a little game plan...

First I tested my tap and tank levels again.


Tank Nitrites .25 Nitrates 0 Ph 6.6
Tank Nitrites 1.0 Nitrates 8 or 10 very very red Ph 6.0


I see my ph needs to be higher and that could be a little problem. So I looked for this bicarb everyone says to add to higher it. My local pet shop does not have any. Is there some household I can add. Other wise I need to oder online. So I need to get that up I knkow.

I need to heat it up a bit I think. Its running 81.9 I think I have read it needs to be a bit higher. Adding more aireation. I plan on doing a full water change. making sure i have the warer temp as close to that 81.9 as I can when readding water. I read to do little water changes during the cycle is that soemthing to do.

I add about 8.Ml ammonia ro so every 24 hours to a 55 gallon tank. I think it brings it up to a 3 little under 4 .. any more suggestions.

The most urgent thing you need to do is to increase your pH as you're close to the point where a stall will happen if you don't (in fact it probably is already stalled).

The bicarb is 'bicarbonate of soda' which you'll find in the baking section of any supermarket, just make sure to read the ingredients to be certain that it only contains bicarbonate of soda (or sodium bicarbonate). Dissolve a tablespoon in a glass of tank water and gradually, over the course of a half day, add this to the tank. Measure the pH after and if it hasn't reached pH 8 then do the same again.

You are in the unlucky position, at least while cycling, of having very low pH tap water so you're going to have to constantly dose bicarb to keep it at pH 8 while you cycle. It might be an idea to get some crushed coral to put in your filter as this will stabilise the pH once you've raised it with the bicarb.

If you do a water change to bring the nitrate down it'll have to be a big one, the whole tank. Do this before adjusting the pH, so start adding the bicarb after the water change.

The ideal temperature is 86F so you're a good bit off this at the moment. Crank it up if your heater can manage it.

 

[Teacher Martyn]

Ok I hve come up with a little game plan...

First I tested my tap and tank levels again.


Tank Nitrites .25 Nitrates 0 Ph 6.6
Tank Nitrites 1.0 Nitrates 8 or 10 very very red Ph 6.0


I see my ph needs to be higher and that could be a little problem. So I looked for this bicarb everyone says to add to higher it. My local pet shop does not have any. Is there some household I can add. Other wise I need to oder online. So I need to get that up I knkow.

I need to heat it up a bit I think. Its running 81.9 I think I have read it needs to be a bit higher. Adding more aireation. I plan on doing a full water change. making sure i have the warer temp as close to that 81.9 as I can when readding water. I read to do little water changes during the cycle is that soemthing to do.

I add about 8.Ml ammonia ro so every 24 hours to a 55 gallon tank. I think it brings it up to a 3 little under 4 .. any more suggestions.

The most urgent thing you need to do is to increase your pH as you're close to the point where a stall will happen if you don't (in fact it probably is already stalled).

The bicarb is 'bicarbonate of soda' which you'll find in the baking section of any supermarket, just make sure to read the ingredients to be certain that it only contains bicarbonate of soda (or sodium bicarbonate). Dissolve a tablespoon in a glass of tank water and gradually, over the course of a half day, add this to the tank. Measure the pH after and if it hasn't reached pH 8 then do the same again.

You are in the unlucky position, at least while cycling, of having very low pH tap water so you're going to have to constantly dose bicarb to keep it at pH 8 while you cycle. It might be an idea to get some crushed coral to put in your filter as this will stabilise the pH once you've raised it with the bicarb.

If you do a water change to bring the nitrate down it'll have to be a big one, the whole tank. Do this before adjusting the pH, so start adding the bicarb after the water change.

The ideal temperature is 86F so you're a good bit off this at the moment. Crank it up if your heater can manage it.

Sorry to but in..... can the ph be left to resettle after the cycling is over (assuming it's within the healthy range)?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Sorry to but in..... can the ph be left to resettle after the cycling is over (assuming it's within the healthy range)?

Yes, absolutely.

While cycling you want a pH of around 8.2, but if you want it lower at the end of the cycle you could stop dosing bicarb and remove the crushed coral from the filter (if you added any) and let it naturally and slowly reduce in pH. Or, if you want to do it a bit quicker, but not too quick so as not to shock the bacteria, you would just make gradual water changes, which you'd be doing anyway to reduce nitrate at the end.

 

[stacey3272]

Ok I hve come up with a little game plan...

First I tested my tap and tank levels again.


Tank Nitrites .25 Nitrates 0 Ph 6.6
Tank Nitrites 1.0 Nitrates 8 or 10 very very red Ph 6.0


I see my ph needs to be higher and that could be a little problem. So I looked for this bicarb everyone says to add to higher it. My local pet shop does not have any. Is there some household I can add. Other wise I need to oder online. So I need to get that up I knkow.

I need to heat it up a bit I think. Its running 81.9 I think I have read it needs to be a bit higher. Adding more aireation. I plan on doing a full water change. making sure i have the warer temp as close to that 81.9 as I can when readding water. I read to do little water changes during the cycle is that soemthing to do.

I add about 8.Ml ammonia ro so every 24 hours to a 55 gallon tank. I think it brings it up to a 3 little under 4 .. any more suggestions.

The most urgent thing you need to do is to increase your pH as you're close to the point where a stall will happen if you don't (in fact it probably is already stalled).

The bicarb is 'bicarbonate of soda' which you'll find in the baking section of any supermarket, just make sure to read the ingredients to be certain that it only contains bicarbonate of soda (or sodium bicarbonate). Dissolve a tablespoon in a glass of tank water and gradually, over the course of a half day, add this to the tank. Measure the pH after and if it hasn't reached pH 8 then do the same again.

You are in the unlucky position, at least while cycling, of having very low pH tap water so you're going to have to constantly dose bicarb to keep it at pH 8 while you cycle. It might be an idea to get some crushed coral to put in your filter as this will stabilise the pH once you've raised it with the bicarb.

If you do a water change to bring the nitrate down it'll have to be a big one, the whole tank. Do this before adjusting the pH, so start adding the bicarb after the water change.

The ideal temperature is 86F so you're a good bit off this at the moment. Crank it up if your heater can manage it.

Ok I retested my ph and it is not 6 it was 7. somthing the darkest on on the card. I must hav emis read a tube. I had a few test going or did somehting wrong. So I think I am ok with the ph. I could riase it a bit to hit 8. Its not on the card I have in my kit so I do not know if it did get there.


But I did add another heater. it said it will go as high 85 degrees I hope that helps the one that was in it. I added another air stone so lots of bubbles are going.My water change was almost all of it and I made sure the temp was as close to 81 as possable when putting new water in. So I do not kills was bacteria was left in there.


I added my ammonia in the am for my 24 hours. But Now Do I add more to add some back. I was thinking later this evening so I can deal with it in the evening instead of the morning right away when I have less time. . Well I will see if any of my changes work.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Ok I hve come up with a little game plan...

First I tested my tap and tank levels again.


Tank Nitrites .25 Nitrates 0 Ph 6.6
Tank Nitrites 1.0 Nitrates 8 or 10 very very red Ph 6.0


I see my ph needs to be higher and that could be a little problem. So I looked for this bicarb everyone says to add to higher it. My local pet shop does not have any. Is there some household I can add. Other wise I need to oder online. So I need to get that up I knkow.

I need to heat it up a bit I think. Its running 81.9 I think I have read it needs to be a bit higher. Adding more aireation. I plan on doing a full water change. making sure i have the warer temp as close to that 81.9 as I can when readding water. I read to do little water changes during the cycle is that soemthing to do.

I add about 8.Ml ammonia ro so every 24 hours to a 55 gallon tank. I think it brings it up to a 3 little under 4 .. any more suggestions.

The most urgent thing you need to do is to increase your pH as you're close to the point where a stall will happen if you don't (in fact it probably is already stalled).

The bicarb is 'bicarbonate of soda' which you'll find in the baking section of any supermarket, just make sure to read the ingredients to be certain that it only contains bicarbonate of soda (or sodium bicarbonate). Dissolve a tablespoon in a glass of tank water and gradually, over the course of a half day, add this to the tank. Measure the pH after and if it hasn't reached pH 8 then do the same again.

You are in the unlucky position, at least while cycling, of having very low pH tap water so you're going to have to constantly dose bicarb to keep it at pH 8 while you cycle. It might be an idea to get some crushed coral to put in your filter as this will stabilise the pH once you've raised it with the bicarb.

If you do a water change to bring the nitrate down it'll have to be a big one, the whole tank. Do this before adjusting the pH, so start adding the bicarb after the water change.

The ideal temperature is 86F so you're a good bit off this at the moment. Crank it up if your heater can manage it.

Ok I retested my ph and it is not 6 it was 7. somthing the darkest on on the card. I must hav emis read a tube. I had a few test going or did somehting wrong. So I think I am ok with the ph. I could riase it a bit to hit 8. Its not on the card I have in my kit so I do not know if it did get there.


But I did add another heater. it said it will go as high 85 degrees I hope that helps the one that was in it. I added another air stone so lots of bubbles are going.My water change was almost all of it and I made sure the temp was as close to 81 as possable when putting new water in. So I do not kills was bacteria was left in there.


I added my ammonia in the am for my 24 hours. But Now Do I add more to add some back. I was thinking later this evening so I can deal with it in the evening instead of the morning right away when I have less time. . Well I will see if any of my changes work.

You don't need to dose every day and having no ammonia in the tank allows the nitrite eating bacteria to catch up. So dose one day and not the next, dose the next day and not the next and so on. What time of day you dose it doesn't matter, do whatever is most convenient for you.

The higher your pH, the more efficient are the bacteria so it would still be wise to try to gradually increase it with some bicarb, although you're going to have difficulty if your pH test only goes to 7.

 

[stacey3272]

Ok I hve come up with a little game plan...

First I tested my tap and tank levels again.


Tank Nitrites .25 Nitrates 0 Ph 6.6
Tank Nitrites 1.0 Nitrates 8 or 10 very very red Ph 6.0


I see my ph needs to be higher and that could be a little problem. So I looked for this bicarb everyone says to add to higher it. My local pet shop does not have any. Is there some household I can add. Other wise I need to oder online. So I need to get that up I knkow.

I need to heat it up a bit I think. Its running 81.9 I think I have read it needs to be a bit higher. Adding more aireation. I plan on doing a full water change. making sure i have the warer temp as close to that 81.9 as I can when readding water. I read to do little water changes during the cycle is that soemthing to do.

I add about 8.Ml ammonia ro so every 24 hours to a 55 gallon tank. I think it brings it up to a 3 little under 4 .. any more suggestions.

The most urgent thing you need to do is to increase your pH as you're close to the point where a stall will happen if you don't (in fact it probably is already stalled).

The bicarb is 'bicarbonate of soda' which you'll find in the baking section of any supermarket, just make sure to read the ingredients to be certain that it only contains bicarbonate of soda (or sodium bicarbonate). Dissolve a tablespoon in a glass of tank water and gradually, over the course of a half day, add this to the tank. Measure the pH after and if it hasn't reached pH 8 then do the same again.

You are in the unlucky position, at least while cycling, of having very low pH tap water so you're going to have to constantly dose bicarb to keep it at pH 8 while you cycle. It might be an idea to get some crushed coral to put in your filter as this will stabilise the pH once you've raised it with the bicarb.

If you do a water change to bring the nitrate down it'll have to be a big one, the whole tank. Do this before adjusting the pH, so start adding the bicarb after the water change.

The ideal temperature is 86F so you're a good bit off this at the moment. Crank it up if your heater can manage it.

Ok I retested my ph and it is not 6 it was 7. somthing the darkest on on the card. I must hav emis read a tube. I had a few test going or did somehting wrong. So I think I am ok with the ph. I could riase it a bit to hit 8. Its not on the card I have in my kit so I do not know if it did get there.


But I did add another heater. it said it will go as high 85 degrees I hope that helps the one that was in it. I added another air stone so lots of bubbles are going.My water change was almost all of it and I made sure the temp was as close to 81 as possable when putting new water in. So I do not kills was bacteria was left in there.


I added my ammonia in the am for my 24 hours. But Now Do I add more to add some back. I was thinking later this evening so I can deal with it in the evening instead of the morning right away when I have less time. . Well I will see if any of my changes work.

You don't need to dose every day and having no ammonia in the tank allows the nitrite eating bacteria to catch up. So dose one day and not the next, dose the next day and not the next and so on. What time of day you dose it doesn't matter, do whatever is most convenient for you.

The higher your pH, the more efficient are the bacteria so it would still be wise to try to gradually increase it with some bicarb, although you're going to have difficulty if your pH test only goes to 7.

sounds good. Idosed lastnight about 7 pm so I should now wait until tomorrow at 7. That bicarb is that just baking soda? I read some whre put a table spon in tank water and add that. Being I do not have fish in it do I have to add it slowly still ?