Newbie with Cycling Question - Page 2

Chipie · 09-01-2006, 07:43 PM

Hi again,
I noticed that i had written "what about the Nitrite" a few post higher. Very sorry about that, i should have put nitrate . Has it is right now(just tested), my amonnia level is still at 0 and my nitrite at 0 also. My nitrate is 6. It seemed a bit darker than yesterday at 6. Can anybody tell me if those numbers seem to indicate the the cycle is going through it's normal course and that i should just let it be or should i add amonnia ? I know it's a lot of questions but i just don't want to do anything to harm the process or just to be waiting for something that's never going to come.
Thanks

LI HxC · 09-01-2006, 08:40 PM

let it hang, itll all even out, its all following the correct cycle, theres no real need for the addition of ammonia at this point

Chipie · 09-01-2006, 08:47 PM

Ok thanks, i'll wait a while longer and see how it goes.
Thanks

ahill3780 · 09-02-2006, 02:20 AM

Never add anything to the tank unless you are testing to make sure of the levels present. See the steps laid out in Jays post to know what levels to target.

Keep up with your water changes and that should help out with the smell.

Jay · 09-02-2006, 06:59 AM

Hi Chipe

YOU NEED TO FOCUS HERE

It is essential that you start the tank cycle with a source of ammonia. We are suggesting a few drops out of the bottle you bought at the pharmacy, GET A READING OF .5 on your test kit.

If you have no ammonia reading at the beginning weeks of the cycle, THE PROCESS WILL STALL. Patience this is a "one time" 4 week process.

The NitrAte will come from the colony of bacteria working on the NitrItes. It is not unusual for tap water to contain nitrates, that is why you have a reading of 6. When the NitrAte reading gets to 20 you will know the cycle Process is working.

Regards,
Jay

Chipie · 09-02-2006, 09:33 AM

Thanks a lot Jay,
You pretty much answered all my questions. Don't worry, i have lots of patience and want to do things right. Don't want have a fish suffer in my tank if i can do any different.
Unfortunatly, all the staff from pet stores i went to had no clue about doing a fishless cycle. One even told me that it was the first time someone was asking for a decent test kit. Oh boy..... There must be a lot af fish dying and suffering out there. I guess they must sell a lot of fish.

As for the Nitrate, i had a feeling that it came from the tap water so i did a test last night. There it was. Nirate 5. That meant that absolutely nothing was going on with my water. Grrr i wasted a week.
So i decided to add the second dose of Cycle(which your supposed to do after a week if you read the instructions and since it can't hurt) just for the sake of testing the water again the next morning.
Just like i thought, still no amonnia.

Well now i added pure amonnia to get my level to 0.5 ppm (it took 15 drops) and will be testing regularly my amonnia and nitrate levels. I will be writing everything down so maybe this could help someone else (or even myself)later.

Thanks again for the help.

Jay · 09-02-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

So i decided to add the second dose of Cycle(which your supposed to do after a week if you read the instructions and since it can't hurt) just for the sake of testing the water again the next morning.
Just like i thought, still no amonnia.

Really?

And no nitrifying bacteria either

Quote:

Well now i added pure ammonia to get my level to 0.5 ppm (it took 15 drops) and will be testing regularly my ammonia and nitrate levels. I will be writing everything down so maybe this could help someone else (or even myself)later.

I'm sure you meant to say test your Ammonia and NitrItes.

OK you have almost got it

You need to test Ammonia and NitrIte and watch for the NitrItes to spike. When the NitrItes spike the NitrAtes will follow with an elevated reading.

Then you will begin to see a decline in Ammonia and NitrItes eventually to "0"and the NitrAtes at 10 or higher. This can take up to 4 weeks of staring at an empty fish tank.

When this happens the tank is ready for a few fish to start.

The information on the lfs comes as no surprise.

Regards,
Jay

Chipie · 09-03-2006, 07:03 PM

Hi again,
Now i have ammonia at 0.5 but my ph is at 8.2 Should i do a partial water change now ?

Will that make my cycle take even more time ?

Thanks

Striped Bass · 09-03-2006, 07:54 PM

Welcome Chipe.

All you need to do is, drop some food flakes in the cycling tank ( about half a teaspoon should do). Let it sit in there rot and brake down into Ammonia. It will help make the bacteria Ammonia level spike up. Once that happens the bacteria Nitrites will grow and eat the Ammonia. Then there is a week or two where the bacteria Nitrates begin to grow. After another week it all levels out and your then safe to add a couple fish. Make sure (SEEING this is a BRAND NEW TANK), that you first do a 15 or 20 % water change. Then you can add only 1 or 2 fsh first. DO NOT FEED THEM FOR THE FIRST 2 or 3 days. Let them alone for that time. Check the levels EVERY day to make sure they are all low or 0 across the board. NO AMMONIA, NO NITRITES,NO NO OR VERY LOW NITRATES. If you still show Ammonia after 3 days give the fish a tiny amount of food and do aother water change. You should be fine. REALLY JUST WAIT TO ADD FISH. Its less stress on the fish not to mention on you.

Now the reason I say don't feed them for those first couple of days is because fish excrete Ammonia. Via urine poo and out of there gills. So those first few days could raise your ammonia and nitrites a little. That should clear up in less the 2 whole days but 3 to be ultra safe. THAT MEANS ON DAY 3 feed them. They are gonna be hungry. Also PLEASE BE ADVISED. Your fish's eyes are bigger then its stomach you only need very little food. As much as they can eat in 3 to 5 minutes at a feeding with out food falling to the bottom of the tank. 2 at Max 3 times a day.

Jay · 09-03-2006, 08:16 PM

Chipie... Relax!!!

Just sit tight and watch the empty tank for a week or so, then test and post back with us and let us know what the readings are.

This is not difficult.

Read stuff on the net, watch TV, take your significant other out for dinners, get involved in sports, take up ballroom dancing Just leave the tank alone and let it cycle

Regards,
Jay