Small Tank Fishless Cycle

[Tropicoll]

Fishless Cycle Day 25 on 54L/11.8 Imp Gallon (14.2 US Gal) Tank:
9 plants, 1 small skull decoration, 1 small bogwood, no extra chemicals, apparently 1 snail!
API Master Liquid test kit

Ammonia added at 2045 last night, tested at 4ppm @2230 (double the usual dose was added)

Today's tests

Test time 0715 - 10 hours 45 minutes after adding ammonia

Water Temperature 25 deg C

Ph Not tested
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 5+ppm
Nitrate: not tested

Test time 1800 - 19.5 hours after adding ammonia.

Water Temperature 25 deg C

Ph 7.2
High Ph 7.4
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 1ppm
Nitrate: not tested

Would the extra ammonia I added cause the Ph do drop from a very steady 7.8 to 7.2-7.4? I ran both tests as the High Range Ph was borderline.

It would seem that the ABacs are doing their jobs beatifully while the NBacs must try harder!

Ho hum, more patience. No little fishies for Collin this weekend!

 

[OldMan47]

As ammonia becomes nitrite and then nitrate it will drop the pH some. The nitrate is often in the form of an acid although it is very dilute. With your nitrite conversion going on you are making some nitrates so a pH drop is quite normal. It would be worthwhile to start monitoring nitrates every da or two t see the ramp up and know that nitrites are being converted the way it seems they are.

 

[waterdrop]

Good advice there from OM47. If your pH drops too much you may have to do a large water change (not uncommon in later stages of fishless cycling) assuming your tap water will bring your pH up. The N-Bacs are always much slower than the A-Bacs, we have all been through that same thing.

~~waterdrop~~