Sensesfail Tank Journal

[SensesFail]

Hi guys

I have finally got my household ammonia and my tank has been emptied earlier and i was adviced to keep a log on here so that you guys and girls can keep me on the correct track to cycling my tank. Abit of history regarding my tank is detailed below. Previously I had been using a product called waterlife biomature which caused hi levels of ammonia and 4 weeks later the nitrite was only 0.3 and stayed like that for a week until I gave up on the product and bought household ammonia and here I am today!

Tank Size: 190L
Testing Time: 19:00
Addition of Ammonia: 19:00
Filter: External canister filter Aquis 1050.

PH of tank as it stands now with no addition of ammonia just clean fresh conditioned water: 7.4 (nitrate bottles colour and ranges dont match what they should!! (nutrafin master test kit)
Ammonia of tank:6.1
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0

I drained all of the tank today up until the gravel line and the water still in the eternal filter and the ammonia level has dropped slightly. Yesterdays reading was off my scale now it has dropped to the top reading in the scale. Do i add amonia or wait for this ammonia has dropped to 0?

Below is a picture of the Tank in question:

 

[SensesFail]

When do I start adding ammonia? When the current ammonia drops?

Cheers

 

[Katch]

yeah wait till ammonia is 0

 

[SensesFail]

The results today are:

Ph = 7.4
Nitrite =0
Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = slightly lighter than 6.1

Usually test at 19:00 was asked to test now so here are the results

 

[kporteo]

Im only a beginner myself, but id say your ammonia level is still a bit too high, it should be 4-5ppm at the start of fishless cycling, id do a 25% water change, that should knock your level down by around 25% - to around 4.5ppm - this is the optimal level for bacterial growth from what i understand.
K

 

[Katch]

i agree with the post above.

 

[SensesFail]

i agree with the post above.

I'll change the water in a mo then re test do I leave it a little before re testing?

 

[Katch]

Not really - we do to be on the safe side but if you know anything about molecule movement in liquids you'd realise that the new water would completly dilute with the old in a matter of seconds.

I'd say do your water change - go make a cup of tea and check your email before a retest.

 

[kporteo]

I agree with the post above

 

[SensesFail]

I agree with the post above

All done and dusted I'm awaiting the results of the ammonia. 15 mins until the test is ready. I shall keep you posted. If the result is above 5 still another water change? I did 60L change out of the 190 litres so just above the 30% change.

 

[SensesFail]

Still towards the high end of the scale lighter than before but still matching nearer 6.1 S another water change I think I'll do another 50L and see where we are.

Another 70litre change so that's 120litres changed let's see how the amonia is now!

It's now 2.4 do I leave it now or top it up to 5ppm?

 

[kporteo]

yeah, youl have to top up to 5ppm, id do it a ml at a time and keep testing to make sure it doesnt go over.
K

 

[SensesFail]

yeah, youl have to top up to 5ppm, id do it a ml at a time and keep testing to make sure it doesnt go over.
K

Added a slight amount of ammonia today and it has given me readings of around 5ppm so now a waiting game until it drops to 0.

 

[waterdrop]

All sounds good to me --WD

 

[SensesFail]

Iv been cycling my tank for around 6-7 days now adding ammonia at the start to around 5PPM. I’m onto the 6/7th day (Currently away from my spread sheet for precise day) and the ammonia is closest to the 3.7 colour on the chart. Its been like this for around 4-5 days and doesn’t seem to be changing? I mean it looks slightly under the 3.7 but no where near the mid 2 colour which is the next on my chart.

Iv tested for Nitrite and that doesn’t currently register on the chart. You can see an ever so slightly bit of pink in the sample but not enough to register on the chart?

Is this normal and am i still on track? For precise dates/days i can obtain this information this afternoon if required. How long does it usually take for the ammonia to drop once adding the ammonia. I have noticed someone’s chart on the forum dropped on the 6 – 7[sup]th[/sup] day back to 0PPM?

Cheers Guys