When to test the water...

[SnowLady]

I got my water testing kit today. And I had been adding ammonia to the water. When am I to test the water? Directly after adding ammonia or after a couple hours or right before I add?

(I'm doing the fishless cycle.)

On a side note, I'm sad my LFS doesn't carry a couple of the fish I was researching. I took note of what they did have and will check them out.

 

[smb]

You want a reading of 3-5ppm. After you add the ammonia wait an hour or so and check. If it's lower, add another teaspoon or so and wait then check again.

This is by no means an exact amount but it will take you about a 1/4 cup of ammonia to get those readings with a 30g. Always do less and then add rather than add too much.

 

[Lithril]

I'm just starting my first fishless one too, using 35% ammonia from work. Stabbing in the dark really with quantities, added about 1-2 ml for 2 days now. The filter I'm starting with is seeded and the ammonia levels are 0 but the Nitrite levels are 5ppm, I'll probable continue with this and see how it goes.

I usually leave the tank a couple of hours after adding the ammonia.

I'm I doing this right SMB??? btw tank is 30 gal

 

[smb]

Yea Lithril, sounds correct to me, You're half way there.

Just keep checking for Nitrites and once they hit 0 you'll be done.

 

[Lithril]

Cheers, really hoping this works well as I've found one major problem with fishless cycling... ammonia smells bloody awful oh yeah and burns like hell when you spill it in a cut.... ho hum


God I need sleep now just posted this in the wrong thread oh well only another 1 1/2 hours before I can ZZZZZZZzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzz

 

[SnowLady]

Thanks all!! ITA that the ammonia smells something fierce!

I've tested two days in a row and my NH levels have been at .50.