Hamstar99 Posted January 16, 2012 Report Share Posted January 16, 2012 Yeah my last one took ages. Like 6 weeks. You think its stopped, start doubting yourself, want to start adding crap to speed it up. Then all of a sudden it comes right, literally over night. I think id rather the wait though than risk 2-$300 of fish getting burned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 16, 2012 Report Share Posted January 16, 2012 You can put a heater in if you haven't already ... as it is a biological process you can speed it up that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 16, 2012 Report Share Posted January 16, 2012 temp has been at 29'C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 16, 2012 Report Share Posted January 16, 2012 Can go to 30 deg C which is the top of the optimal range. Resources suggest doing a partial water change if nitrites off chart. Don't you have any live filter material you can chuck into the tank to speed this all up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted January 16, 2012 Report Share Posted January 16, 2012 i think Zeebee going fine- Just a little patience grasshopper- Its only two weeks today so thats about right anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2012 Thanks everyone I will keep going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Water changes are going to be important once you get Nitrate forming, as this is the part of the Nitrogen cycle that is accessible to Algae. Since your lacking in plants (macro-algae) the slack shall be taken up by micro-algae, leaving you with an algal bloom if you do not remove the nitrate by way of water change. :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Zeebee did your ammonia come down yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Yes, day 15 went to 0.5. Today as nitrites were still of the chart I did a large 80-90% water change. Tested again for nitrites after water change and nitrites are still off the chart.....(test tube is bright pinky purple). Have tested the same water which i have filled it up with and that is at 0ppm. Is there something wrong here??? very strange and don't know what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Oh and FYI anyone who is looking for "pure" ammonia.... Te Awamutu bin inn have it out the back! only place in the Waikato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Te Awamutu bin inn have it out the back! only place in the Waikato sure does. Just be aware that that stuff is 25% ammonia as apposed to 10% supermarket stuff. So you need to cut down how much you put in. Only dose to 2ppm as well 4ppm seems to stall the process. you will need to dose every few days now until ammonia is converted in 24hrs. Yes your nitrites will be off the chart (this is what all your ammonia is turned to), you will be looking at another few weeks yet to convert your nitrites. You better read this http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/fishless_cycle.php. Also look at the rest of the library. Dr Tim; http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/fishless/fishless.html note the little graph showing your nitrites. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Oh and FYI anyone who is looking for "pure" ammonia.... Te Awamutu bin inn have it out the back! only place in the Waikato That is where I get my aquarium/tonic salt Sold under the "brand name" of "Bulk Rock Salt" :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Sooo yesterday i tested the water... 0.5ppm ammonia, >5 nitrites (still off the chart), and planted two hairgrass and 3 of these other plants but have no idea what they are.. Anyway, tested my water today. and nitrites were at 0.25, ammonia 0.25.. Do the plants absorb nitrites, or was it just a coincident and my tank is almost cycled?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 To my understanding they only absorb nitrates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Have you been re dosing with ammonia or have you still been waiting for it to zero out? Nitrites drop fast but that reading does sound strange especially since you still have ammonia. Can you test another source with no known ammonia just to confirm your testing is accurate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 I have been dosing a small amount when it reaches near zero (which takes a couple of days after dosing). Do you mean test my tap water or my other "established" tanks water? But yes it is very strange.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Ok cool you might be nearly cycled then. Just seem strange that you never get zero readings for you ammonia. Yeah test the tap water or an established tank to see if you get zero readings on them for your ammonia and nitrites. Try not to re dose till it gets to zero, tomorrow hopefully? Dose every 2-3 days to 2ppm to keep your bacterias alive until you stock. Dont re dose with ammonia for the last 48-72 hrs before you stock your tank. Water changes to bring your nitrates down if need be. Multiple smaller daily ones are better to get nitrates down to 10ppm or so before you add your fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Have tested my established aqaurium - ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm. Also just tested my nitrate levels in my tank that is cycling - 30ppm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 if your getting nitrate readings like that I'd say your safely established. cut out adding ammonia now, do a couple water changes and start adding fish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Sooooo I CAN ADD FISH if I do a water change??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 you need to get your nitrites/nitrates + any surfactants that were in the NH3/NH4+ you used out, this means w/Changes. probably best done as a 50% / day for next 3 days, then start adding fish, still keeping it fairly slow, your nitrobacter are established but will still have a mini-cycle if you exceed their capabilities... AND KEEP WATER CHANGES GOING! :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Sweet thanks so much! But one question.. if I dont add ammonia for 3 days won't the bacteria die? So can I add a couple of danios today after 1st 50% water change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 long as there is sufficient flow through a system, the nitrobacter go into a "hibernation" which they can survive for quite a long time. (bout a week or even more) so dont stress too much bout it. Like I said, it'll be any surfactants that are left in the water from the ammonia you used that will be your next problem. I would suggest holding off till you get a few w/changes done. Then add fish. You could probably get away with more than a couple danios, the system should be able to support a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 One of the points of a fishless cycle is that the tank should be ready to accept all your stock at once .. after first doing a 90% water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Like I said, it'll be any surfactants that are left in the water from the ammonia you used that will be your next problem. I would suggest holding off till you get a few w/changes d I think Zeebee got some clear ammonia from here in Te Awamutu so she should be sweet without surfactants. Sounds like your ready for your fish. One of the main advantages of what you have done is being able to fully stock your tank once you are cycled (now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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