Polwarth Posted February 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 All is good with the unkown universe. I have just done another test, pH 7.4, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0. The colours of the test results, are a near perfect match for the chart, in the past the colours have been "close". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodKing Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 I have just done another test, pH 7.4, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0.We want NO3- to be above 0, or has it already tested +ve for nitrates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 It's a planted tank with a previous algal bloom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi and welcome to the Fishroom. There is some tank cycling info here: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1868/quote:1odeyoux Have you read this article? Nitrate should be showing some reading if your tank is cycled. If it was me I would be wary of adding fish to it with all readings sitting at 0. A huge water change may have undone all your previous work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Based on the above, Phil was doing 20% water changes daily, but his ammonia levels were dropping twice as fast than expected from water dilution only indicating that nitrification was taking place. After a 90% water change, levels dropped to 0.25 ppm (possibly), and then after another day with no water change, it has dropped to 0. Nitrites are also 0, and he has plants consuming nitrates. Sounds like it is working fine. A huge water change is very unlikely to affect the filter bacteria unless it were chlorinated water. Still, since this hasn't been going as expected, perhaps only stock it with a few fish and watch carefully to see what happens to the parameters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi Polwarth, have you ever had any nitrate readings?i notice you didnt at the start and you dont now. Just in case you havnt already id test again. MAke sure you do the 30 second shake and 1minute shake thing. Have you got another tank to test to check your kit? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Polwarth, I imagine by now you are very confused? There is not absolute tried and true 'recipe' for cycling a tank. Nor is fishless cycling a proven better method than any other. It is what you prefer to us. If you start off by stocking your tank slowly, doing regular 25-30% water changes and waiting a good week before adding new fish, by taking readings regularly you will know if an issue with ammonia or nitrites is arising. If they start to build daily water changes of 25-30% are recommended to bring the levels back down. I rarely test my tanks these days as I can tell by the way the fish are acting if the tank is out of whack as far as ammonia/nitrite/nitrate goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polwarth Posted March 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 Hi all I have been watching the tank from the other side of the room for a couple of days, just to let it do its own thing before retesting. So I have done the test and I have 7.4pH, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites BUT .... The Nitrates appear to be slightly above 0 but not a match for the next colour (5.0ppm). So I am assuming that I have a positive test for Nitrates but I am not sure what the exact level is. The Plan: Buy a couple of algae eaters to do some cleaning, and to slowly stock the tank adding fish after the tank has time to settle. Thanks again for all the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 Yes you need to get something in your tank to cycle it whether that be a couple of fish or some ammonia. It wont progress or cycle if you arnt feeding the bacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 Its sounding positive - well done! Take your time stocking and remember that if anything goes wrong a water change is always a good idea as the first step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodKing Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 Yee haa! love when a tank is ready to go :nilly: So much waiting and watching :nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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