Ammonia WAY too high? - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

Lonewolfblue · 05-14-2006, 04:22 PM

A dive in ph usually happens towards the end of the cycle. If your ph is down near 6, do a PWC, a small one, to try and bump the ph up so it doesn't stall the cycle by being too low.

SCFatz · 05-14-2006, 05:07 PM

Did you mean to say nitrites?

Elle2 · 05-14-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCFatz

Did you mean to say nitrites?

Well my nitrates are holding at a high level but my nitrates, which showed up in a small amount for the first time yesterday, seemed to drop today as well (although they are at very marginal levels so perhaps this doesn't mean much?)

SCFatz · 05-14-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Well my nitrates are holding at a high level but my nitrates

Ok...now your just messin with my head.

Maybe just post all the results when you get a chance.

Elle2 · 05-14-2006, 10:05 PM

ooops... sorry- I meant to say that my Nitrites were high but that my Nitrates lowered.

May 13th

Ammonia: 4-5
Nitrites: 5
Nitrates: 5

May 14th

Ammonia 1
Nitrites 5
Nitrates 0-5 (looked like some where in-between)
pH 6

sith j · 05-14-2006, 10:41 PM

how many days did your tank set at 4-5ppm of ammonia. i am right there now. i have transfered rocks and decorations and ceramic cylinders from cycled tank and havent seen a decrease in ammonia yet or nitrites. i am on day four. i am using liquid ammonia.

rich311k · 05-14-2006, 10:47 PM

Nitrate tests below 10ppm are kind of iffy. It looks like you are moving right along. You have to love that ammonia number, dropping nicely.

Elle2 · 05-14-2006, 10:51 PM

that's what I was hoping. now if I can just figure out what's happening to my pH I will hopefully be back on track.

My ammonia sat between 5 and 8 for 8 days, on the 9th it dropped to about 4 and then the day after that to 1. But I was cycling with dead shrimp so you may not have to wait as long if you are using pure ammonia. I found this person's readings helpful- though I expect my cycle to be slower:

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/flc-data.htm

Lonewolfblue · 05-15-2006, 12:22 AM

Shouldn't have to worry about your nitrate level just yet. With having both nitrite and nitrate, your nitrate test is probably not going to be accurate. Personally, during a fishless cycle, I only watch ammonia and nitrite and ph. If the ph crashes, I do a PWC to bring the ph back so the cycle doesn't stall. Once you are cycled, then test for nitrate to get an accurate level to determine if you need to do a small or large PWC before adding fish.

Elle2 · 05-15-2006, 02:41 PM

I figured that was probably the case- and pretty much guessed that I was getting ahead of myself with the nitrate testing- it just becomes a bit of an obsession monitoring and hoping for changes. But it was back up a little today so I am not too worried and won't bother testing again until the end. I did a PWC today for the pH so hopefully that works.

Is it possible that I am adding too much water conditioner for the chlorine and that might be what is lowering my pH? I haven't added more than the instructions call for, but it does say that it buffers pH and if my water is already soft....

05-14-2006, 04:22 PM	#11
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	A dive in ph usually happens towards the end of the cycle. If your ph is down near 6, do a PWC, a small one, to try and bump the ph up so it doesn't stall the cycle by being too low. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

05-14-2006, 05:07 PM	#12
SCFatz Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 814	Did you mean to say nitrites? __________________ Fatz 90g SW FOWLR 50g tall fw planted at .6wpg 29g fw planted at 1.2 wpg 10g fw planted at 3 wpg cf

05-15-2006, 12:22 AM	#19
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Shouldn't have to worry about your nitrate level just yet. With having both nitrite and nitrate, your nitrate test is probably not going to be accurate. Personally, during a fishless cycle, I only watch ammonia and nitrite and ph. If the ph crashes, I do a PWC to bring the ph back so the cycle doesn't stall. Once you are cycled, then test for nitrate to get an accurate level to determine if you need to do a small or large PWC before adding fish. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

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05-14-2006, 10:05 PM	#15
Elle2 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 269	ooops... sorry- I meant to say that my Nitrites were high but that my Nitrates lowered. May 13th Ammonia: 4-5 Nitrites: 5 Nitrates: 5 May 14th Ammonia 1 Nitrites 5 Nitrates 0-5 (looked like some where in-between) pH 6

05-14-2006, 10:41 PM	#16
sith j Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: johnson city, tennessee Posts: 137 Images: 6	how many days did your tank set at 4-5ppm of ammonia. i am right there now. i have transfered rocks and decorations and ceramic cylinders from cycled tank and havent seen a decrease in ammonia yet or nitrites. i am on day four. i am using liquid ammonia.

05-14-2006, 10:47 PM	#17
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Nitrate tests below 10ppm are kind of iffy. It looks like you are moving right along. You have to love that ammonia number, dropping nicely.

05-14-2006, 10:51 PM	#18
Elle2 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 269	that's what I was hoping. now if I can just figure out what's happening to my pH I will hopefully be back on track. My ammonia sat between 5 and 8 for 8 days, on the 9th it dropped to about 4 and then the day after that to 1. But I was cycling with dead shrimp so you may not have to wait as long if you are using pure ammonia. I found this person's readings helpful- though I expect my cycle to be slower: http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/flc-data.htm

05-15-2006, 02:41 PM	#20
Elle2 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 269	I figured that was probably the case- and pretty much guessed that I was getting ahead of myself with the nitrate testing- it just becomes a bit of an obsession monitoring and hoping for changes. But it was back up a little today so I am not too worried and won't bother testing again until the end. I did a PWC today for the pH so hopefully that works. Is it possible that I am adding too much water conditioner for the chlorine and that might be what is lowering my pH? I haven't added more than the instructions call for, but it does say that it buffers pH and if my water is already soft....