Started my Fishless cycle

[AlexT]

I think to make sure the pH is always over 6.5 and preferably 7.0+ as far as I know. Below 7.0 will make things take a lot longer. But I don't think it's the case of "higher pH the better, so be careful with that).

The ammonia needs to be below 5.0, but yours was at 4.0 for what must feel like 12 years . You are then waiting for nitrite to make an appearance. If you have a heater in the tank and can jack it up to 82-85F that seems to be the thing that is recommend to help the process. @Essjay will point out anything else, or if I have not got it right here.

If you have the cash to spare, you might want to consider Dr Tims again. I know you have used a good few of these, and can't keep pouring money into false starts. What size is the tank again (litres)?

 

[Dermot40]

I have had a heater in tank since the start. Temp sitting around 81F. I have a bottle of Dr Tim’s Ammonia unopened incase I need to bring up the reading.
m
Is that what you meant when you said try Dr Tim’s
My PH was always sitting at 7.4 till I added the garden soil. My garden soil is Acidic

 

[Dermot40]

I googled Buying used aquarium media. I found this The Nitrifying Bacterial Goop Company. Nitrico. And https://www.tropco.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5259
Has anyone had any experience with things like this.

 

[Essjay]

I haven't but other members have and they report success with it. It's prepared, then immediately shipped and it has to be used within a few days.

As for ammonia, the target level for starting is 3 ppm. Too much ammonia makes a lot of nitrite and at around 15 ppm, nitrite stalls the cycle.

 

[Dermot40]

I have done a test of tank 1.5 hours since I did an 80% water change
Ammonia. 2ppm
Nitrite. 0ppm
NitrAte. 0ppm
PH. 6.4 - 6.5
Is Ammonia too low now. How much Dr Tim’s ammonia do I need to add to bring it up to 3ppm in a 200ltr tank
PH not back to what it use to be at 7.4 Am I too impatient dose ph need more time to get accurate reading.

 

[AlexT]

Is that what you meant when you said try Dr Tim’s

sorry meant his bacteria bottle

 

[AlexT]

I have done a test of tank 1.5 hours since I did an 80% water change
Ammonia. 2ppm
Nitrite. 0ppm
NitrAte. 0ppm
PH. 6.4 - 6.5
Is Ammonia too low now. How much Dr Tim’s ammonia do I need to add to bring it up to 3ppm in a 200ltr tank
PH not back to what it use to be at 7.4 Am I too impatient dose ph need more time to get accurate reading.

2ppm is not too low, i think (but check with someone) some guides say when it gets below 2ppm to top it up, and some say when it gets to 1ppm to top it up. Tell you something, it might take an hour, but you'd do a lot worse than read the whole of this thread that @Essjay and @777james777 have put together, and it's still running as of today https://www.fishforums.net/threads/new-to-the-forum.489137/

 

[Essjay]

2 ppm is a bit low, but I wouldn't worry yet. If you use our method, you'll add more ammonia when you reach the target and you can add 3 ppm then.


How low does the normal range pH tester go? When a level is below the bottom of the scale the tester still shows the lowest colour on the scale. If the tester only goes down to 6.0, your reading of 6.0 could have been below that.
6.4 to 6.5 is still too low, it needs to be above 7 for cycling. It will still cycle at that pH but it will take longer. Using bicarbonate of soda should raise it for cycling.

 

[Dermot40]

I will get bicarbonate of soda tomorro. Sorry for asking all the questions but my PH is 6.4 reading am I looking to raise it 7.4 approx.
And how much bicarb will I add for a 200 litres tank.
Is it 1 tsp for every 19 litres ?.

 

[Essjay]

1 level tablespoon (15 ml spoon) per 50 litres tank water, which is the same as 1 teaspoon (5 ml spoon) per 17 litres water. So 4 tablespoons (4 x 15 ml spoon) in 200 litres.
Take out a bit of tank water, stir the bicarbonate of soda in that till it's dissolved and pour slowly back into the tank. If you empty the spoon of bicarb straight into the tank it'll fall to the bottom and take a while to dissolve.

 

[Dermot40]

1 level tablespoon (15 ml spoon) per 50 litres tank water, which is the same as 1 teaspoon (5 ml spoon) per 17 litres water. So 4 tablespoons (4 x 15 ml spoon) in 200 litres.
Take out a bit of tank water, stir the bicarbonate of soda in that till it's dissolved and pour slowly back into the tank. If you empty the spoon of bicarb straight into the tank it'll fall to the bottom and take a while to dissolve.

Thanks for you help.

 

[Dermot40]

Just about to add bicarb into tank. Following you measurements how much will this increase the PH reading

 

[Essjay]

It depends on just how low. Wait half an hour for it to mix in thoroughly and test the pH. If it's over 7.0 that's OK, if it's still under 7.0, add some more. It is easier to add more than have to do a water change to take some out of too much is added the first time.

 

[Dermot40]

I added half amount 2 Tbsp of bicarb and waited test is now PH 7.6

 

[Essjay]

That's fine. During the cycle, check the pH every so often just to make sure it's not dropping again.

Once the cycle is complete, a big water change needs to be done to remove all the nitrate made during the cycle. That will also remove the bicarb as it's not good for fish.