What's Happened To My Cycle?

[xeno]

I've been doing a fishless cycle for 2 1/2 weeks now - all seemed to be going well until yesterday when my results became very strange. My tank is a tetra aqua art 60l with internal filter, gravel, half a dozen plants and an airpump.

All was well on Sunday - Ammonia was dropping from 4mg/l to 0.4 mg/l in 10 hrs and my nitrites were high (using tetra and Interpret test kits). My pH was 6.75 ( it had dropped to 5.0 the day before so I did a pwc to bring it up a little into which I added Tetra aquasafe, safestart and easy balance). Last night my nitrites were back down to 0.3mg/l, but my ammonia was still 1mg/l, and my ph was dropping again to 6.0. So I didn't add any ammonia thinking that ammonia would be 0 this am and I'd add some more then.

Today, I checked all my water levels:

ph 5.5; Ammonia 0.6 mg/l; Nitrites 0; Nitrates 30mg/l; GH 12 dH; KH 2 dH.

I'm completely confused at these results, and beginning to feel a little disheartened. I hope somebody could explain it for me, and what my next step should be. I haven't added any more ammonia this morning, but will do later today after I check my ammonia levels again.

I'm thinking at the moment that I need to keep my pH and/or KH a bit higher - but how? Do I need to do another pwc? Was adding more easy balance or safestart detrimental to my cycle?

Sorry for long post!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it's your pH, the bacteria you are trying to culture cannot live below a pH of 5.5, at 6 their growth will be very slow.

buffer the pH of your tank up with something like some crushed coral and it should bring it back round. however you may find with the pH having dropped so low that the bacteria has died off and you may basically have to start over

 

[-germ-]

Oh, Wiggles on cycling topics Brings back memories!

Miss W would be (IMO), correct.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Oh, Wiggles on cycling topics Brings back memories!

Miss W would be (IMO), correct.

lol i'm sure if he comes on rdd can confirm it, he's the pH and cycling expert.

 

[xeno]

buffer the pH of your tank up with something like some crushed coral and it should bring it back round.

Crushed coral? Is that something I can get from my lfs? Do I just stick it in with gravel? And how much will I need?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup, most lfs's should sell it. you can either put it in your filter or sprinkle it into the tank to mix in with the substrate. there's no exact science to how much to add, just put a little bit in to start, give it a day to settle and test the pH, add some more if need be and so on. may take a couple of days to get it to the right level.

 

[xeno]

Okay - thanks for your help. Not sure I can get to my lfs today - so I've had to do a water change to get my pH back up to 7.5. I'll get out tomorrow.