Cycle

[starles]

ok, sounds good. Thanks a lot!

 

[starles]

Is the nitrate not suppost to continualy rise without water changes? What does it mean if you dont see any?

 

[mr_X]

it should if you aren't taking out the nutrients you are putting in. if you don't see any i would question the test kit.

 

[starles]

its the same test kit that showed ammonia nitrite and nitrate when shrimp cycling?

 

[mr_X]

yes. did you see nitrates present then?

 

[starles]

yes, its like they disapeared?

 

[Greenmaster]

Nitrates can be consumed by algae and they can be consumed by anaerobic bacteria.

 

[starles]

no algae, so must be the bactria, so anaerobic bactreria is what im looking for when cycling, right?

 

[Greenmaster]

The things that matter are no ammonia or nitrite... the nitrate is not a common one to go to zero. Once you have a larger bio load then your nitrates will probably start to rise. Your DSB is what is taking out the nitrates. But it often can't take it out very fast, so once you have higher ammonia production your DSB probably won't be able to keep up. It will help to keep them from building too fast though.