What Do My Tests Tell Me?

[itsmedeanna64]

Good Morning everyone!

I am on day 6 on my 29 gal fishless cycling tank. I have 3 live plants in there since Monday and 2 days this week I have added fish flakes....trying to get it started non chemically. 2 days ago I found a couple of tiny hitch hiker snails that must have came on my plants. That's ok, they can stay (for now) since my daughter has enjoyed watching them. Maybe they help with the cycling, if they live! LOL
Okay, I tested my water this morning and this is what I got:

Ammonia-.50
Nitrates-5.0
Nitrites-.25
PH-6.4

Does mean my cycling has finally got started now? I did test only the ammonia yesterday and it was 0 then. So, my understanding is that I will wait till my ammonia gets about 5.0 and then I do a water change? 1/4 or 1/2? After that then I want my ammonia to go back down to 0, right?.....then wait for it to go back up again?

I am sorry if I am being a pest, I just want to do this right and of all the research I have done on the web about this, you guys on this board seem to be the most informative!
Thanks for any help!!

 

[kris-b-]

Try checking out this link....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

What is the NitrAte level of your tap water? As I don't think you would see any increase in NitrAtes in 6 days of performing a fishless cycle.

Also you only perform a water change on a fishless cycle 24hours before you add your fish once the cycle is complete.

 

[rdd1952]

Have you added ammonia to the water? It won't climb on it's own (it actually may climb some since there are some snails in the tank). You will have to add ammonia or fish flakes (decay and create ammonia). Check out the link kris-b- gave you (it's my thread, I'm flattered). It should telll you everything you need to know about a fishless cycle.

 

[itsmedeanna64]

To answer you about the nitrates in my tap water, I checked it the day I set up my tank and it was 0. If I don't do a water change until I get ready to add my fish then does that mean my ammonia will go back down on its own?

 

[Squid]

Im new to this too, so you dont want to base your decision on what I have to say, but i thought in a fishless cylce you want to start off by getting your ammonia levels up to 5ppm fairly quickly, hence why people add ammonia from the outset to kick off the cycle. Otherwise, by just adding food you will probably only have a mini-cycle and not have set the tank up for the complete bio-load.

I guess somebody will either correct me or disagree, but at least then i can find out if im getting the right idea or not. Im about to start mine too

..and hey, a few weeks ago, i thought add water and dechlorinator and off you go, so im glad i did some reading now saved on the mass killing of my future fish purchase!!!


EDIT Looks like others got there first anyway.. im sooo slow..

 

[rdd1952]

Im new to this too, so you dont want to base your decision on what I have to say, but i thought in a fishless cylce you want to start off by getting your ammonia levels up to 5ppm fairly quickly, hence why people add ammonia from the outset to kick off the cycle. Otherwise, by just adding food you will probably only have a mini-cycle and not have set the tank up for the complete bio-load.

I guess somebody will either correct me or disagree, but at least then i can find out if im getting the right idea or not. Im about to start mine too

..and hey, a few weeks ago, i thought add water and dechlorinator and off you go, so im glad i did some reading now saved on the mass killing of my future fish purchase!!!


EDIT Looks like others got there first anyway.. im sooo slow..

Actually, you are correct. You should add enough ammonia to start to raise it to 5 or 6 ppm and then, depending on which method you use, either add more the next day or wait for it to fall. The fish food will also work but it is much more difficult to figure how much to add to get the level to 5 or 6 ppm. If done properly you can cycle a tank fully with flakes just like you can with ammonia but it's just a little harder to regulate.