Fishless Cycling.

hence the reason i am asking

used the test kit only a few times over the past month other than that its new

i'm off to do another test, stay with me

LOL

i am a fool

should wait awhile for the test to work

give me the dunce hat

back soon

off to do a water change

back from a complete water change

lets start again

Flukes,

i have juut started a series of tanks and i know my ammonia test kit works, how much is the rate per 100ltrs

:wink:

Ok the original receipe was 4-5 drops NH3 / 10 gal / day until nitrite peaks, then reduce to 2-3 drops / 10 gal / day.

Now since this has progressed Tom Griffen, the creator of this method recommends adding the 4-5 drops per 10gal testing for a reading, you will want a reading of 5ppm so if it gives you 2ppm then double the amount. Use the 4-5drop per 10gal as a base and then calculate how much you need to get it too 5ppm.

after a week of water changes i have achived the 5ppm

HINT DON'T PUT IN 400ML OF AMMONIA

do i wait till the ammonia to drop a little before i add more

or do i add two cap fulls (which got the reading to 5ppm) even if it raises the ammonia above the 5ppm?

Naa wait till you see it drop again, you can even leave it at 4ppm. As long as there is ammonia present then the bacteria will form too convert it too nitrite.

The reason its recomended too keep it at 5ppm is so that there is the maximum amount of bacteria created. I let mine drop too 2-3ppm before i topped it up.

I actually found that putting too much ammonia and then doing a water change help my cycle.

Also if you dont see much happening, like 5days without a different reading i like too do a water change and add the ammonia again.

yeah thats what i figured,

i am onto it, keep you posted

Im now into the end of my fourth week of fishless cycling pH 8.2 i originally started with pH 7.1 Temp 30 Degrees Ammonia: 2-3ppm Nitrite: 5 and has been up for 2 weeks without dropping .... ive been keeping ammonia at half dose after nitrite peak my nitrate fluctuates from one day to the next any suggestions??

You mean nitrites are fluctuating?? If your nitrates are fluctuating then you must be doing water changes.. or have plants in the tank..

Normally when i hit a dry spot, i do a 50% water change. Take the readings again, now keep adding ammonia but not as much. You ammonia should sit around 2-3ppm and nitrite around 4-5ppm.

Normally you dont see things happening when there is either too much ammonia or nitrite. Normally the later because everytime ammonia is added its converted too nitrites.

To make it easier try keeping your nitrites at 4ppm, so if its at 4ppm dont add anymore till it drops.

Just about every cycle i have done contains a water change because ive added too much ammonia, it happens to easily, but a water change seem to start things going again.

Oh something i have not added this whole post...

If your changing water dont use de-chloranated water, most dechlors reduce ammonia, in a cycle we want ammonia!...

o.k my tanks have been cycling for a few weeks

i add a cap full of ammonium and it brings my level to 5ppm

the next arvo its at nil

NitrAtes are sitting at about 40ppm, i'll do a 80% water cahnge now to destroy this

i don't have a nitrIte kit so i just don't know.

can i add fish (only livebears at the minymo)?