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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
My PH is 7.4
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Started my Fishless cycle
- Thread starter Dermot40
- Start date
That's fine. it's when it drops below 7.0 into 6's that the cycle slows.
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
What is wrong with my cycle. Why is it sitting still at 4ppm ammonia and not moving
what else can I do.
i am testing both PH and High PH. What is the difference. Both tests show 7.4 PH
what else can I do.
i am testing both PH and High PH. What is the difference. Both tests show 7.4 PH
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
Should I add more filter waste from my daughters tank ?
4ppm ammonia should not be the problem. When it gets above 5ppm it can stall the cycle I've read from Dr Tim. But obviously you feel stalled anyway. There is no reason your ammonia will not go down from 4.0 with the Safe Start added. My ammonia started going down on day 3.
Are you still checking for nitrite?
What test kit are you using for ammonia?
Do you still have bits of fish food lying around or rotting?
Your hands in the tank shouldn't be a problem as you asked unless you are doing a major error and contaminating the water which I doubt very much
I don't know how much filter waste does. Probably a tiny bit, but you really need the mature media itself, or a small chunk. Is it sponge?
Are you still checking for nitrite?
What test kit are you using for ammonia?
Do you still have bits of fish food lying around or rotting?
Your hands in the tank shouldn't be a problem as you asked unless you are doing a major error and contaminating the water which I doubt very much
I don't know how much filter waste does. Probably a tiny bit, but you really need the mature media itself, or a small chunk. Is it sponge?
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
Yes I check Nitrite when I test Ammonia. I am using API Master test kick. On I removed all the unused fish food except what was sucked into the filter, which I have obviously not touched.
don’t know why this Ammonia reading that I started with Dr Tim’s ammonia on 16th August. I got reading to 4ppm then and nothing has changed. I have not added any more ammonia just at a loss.
don’t know why this Ammonia reading that I started with Dr Tim’s ammonia on 16th August. I got reading to 4ppm then and nothing has changed. I have not added any more ammonia just at a loss.
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
BREAKING NEWS………….. Ammonia reading still 4ppm. 0 reading Nitrite and Nitrate.
I made up a parcel of soil from an unused part of my garden. Suspended this below water level. I was told this was a way to introduce nitrified bacteria. AlexT how are you getting on, you must be almost finished. I have turned to desperation
I made up a parcel of soil from an unused part of my garden. Suspended this below water level. I was told this was a way to introduce nitrified bacteria. AlexT how are you getting on, you must be almost finished. I have turned to desperation
How weird mate, was literally about to put an entry on this thread.BREAKING NEWS………….. Ammonia reading still 4ppm. 0 reading Nitrite and Nitrate.
I made up a parcel of soil from an unused part of my garden. Suspended this below water level. I was told this was a way to introduce nitrified bacteria. AlexT how are you getting on, you must be almost finished. I have turned to desperation
BREAKING... no progress this end. I am 7 days in with the Safe Start and temperature of 84 and I've had no significant nitrite. I had 0.125 one day, then nothing, back to 0. My ammonia went down, but I am now led to believe ammonia can go down sometimes simply through evaporation. I've had diddly squat with nitrite 7 days in. Therefore, I am not even passed first base.
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
I was very cautious I only added about 2 Tbsp of surface soil and wrapped it in double layer of material. Maybe I should have added more ?.
I don’t expect miracles but I hope I can Stock the tank this side of Christmas. My Temp is a 81 - 84F
I have since added a further 2Tbsp of soil, and added a sponge filter to get air into tank.
I don’t expect miracles but I hope I can Stock the tank this side of Christmas. My Temp is a 81 - 84F
I have since added a further 2Tbsp of soil, and added a sponge filter to get air into tank.
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
Not that anything has changed Ammonia still 40ppm Nitrate and Nitrate still no show.
Can I get advice on what I should do when and IF, my Ammonia starts to drop, at what point do I add Dr Tim’s ammonia or do I leave things alone.
My understanding is that when Ammonia get as low as 0.5ppm I should add Dr Tim’s to bring reading back up, as this will feed the Nitrite eating bacteria. And keep adding till Nitrate readings increase.
Then to check if tank is cycled bring Ammonia reading up to 2ppm and test 24 hrs later to see if Ammonia and Nitrite readings are both 0. Then do 50% water change and add Seacheme Prime, till Nitrate reading is below 20 ppm. Tank cycled.
Am I right or have I got it wrong, just making sure I am prepared form next step.
Can I get advice on what I should do when and IF, my Ammonia starts to drop, at what point do I add Dr Tim’s ammonia or do I leave things alone.
My understanding is that when Ammonia get as low as 0.5ppm I should add Dr Tim’s to bring reading back up, as this will feed the Nitrite eating bacteria. And keep adding till Nitrate readings increase.
Then to check if tank is cycled bring Ammonia reading up to 2ppm and test 24 hrs later to see if Ammonia and Nitrite readings are both 0. Then do 50% water change and add Seacheme Prime, till Nitrate reading is below 20 ppm. Tank cycled.
Am I right or have I got it wrong, just making sure I am prepared form next step.
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Are you following the method on Dr Tim's website or the method on here?
Nitrite should never get as high as 20 ppm during cycling or the cycle will stall. And nitrite is zero when the cycle is complete.
Prime does not remove nitrate, it binds it for ~24 hours. We do a big water change at the end of a cycle to remove the nitrate made during cycling.
Do you mean nitrite or nitrate?
Nitrite should never get as high as 20 ppm during cycling or the cycle will stall. And nitrite is zero when the cycle is complete.
Prime does not remove nitrate, it binds it for ~24 hours. We do a big water change at the end of a cycle to remove the nitrate made during cycling.
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
Yes sorry I meant to write NitrAte, I’ve changed it now.
I was following just a general cycle I thought they were all very similar. I only have Prime, but I can get another brand to remove Chlorine in the tap water after a water change.
I was following just a general cycle I thought they were all very similar. I only have Prime, but I can get another brand to remove Chlorine in the tap water after a water change.
You'll read that many fishless cycling methods say to add ammonia every time it drops to zero, but this makes so much nitrite that the cycle stalls. The method on here was written so that if followed to the letter, and ammonia added only when certain targets have been reached, nitrite can never get high enough to stall the cycle.
www.fishforums.net
Nitrate is the end point of the cycle and it builds up quite high during the cycle. Our method states
remember to do as big a water change as possible before adding fish, even 80%+ is fine.
Basically, most of the water should be removed at the end of the cycle to reset the parameters back to tap water levels. Prime does not remove nitrate, just binds it temporarily. Water changes remove nitrate - unless the level in tap water is very high, of course.
Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!
Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...
www.fishforums.net
Nitrate is the end point of the cycle and it builds up quite high during the cycle. Our method states
remember to do as big a water change as possible before adding fish, even 80%+ is fine.
Basically, most of the water should be removed at the end of the cycle to reset the parameters back to tap water levels. Prime does not remove nitrate, just binds it temporarily. Water changes remove nitrate - unless the level in tap water is very high, of course.
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Dermot40
Fish Fanatic
What I don’t understand the cycle time line states that thus far into my cycle my Ammonia should be dropping and I should start to see Nitrite readings. I first added my Ammonia to get my 4ppm reading on 16th August, but I have not seen any movement at all to my readings.
My water temp is 81F, my PH is 7.6 I have just added better surface water movement so why have I not saw any change to my cycle. I must be doing something wrong. I test faithfully every second day but NEVER see any change.
What is the best dechlorinator to use when I can call my tank cycled ?
My water temp is 81F, my PH is 7.6 I have just added better surface water movement so why have I not saw any change to my cycle. I must be doing something wrong. I test faithfully every second day but NEVER see any change.
What is the best dechlorinator to use when I can call my tank cycled ?
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