Cycling - Low Ph slightly high salt?

[Shultz]

Started cycling the tank 2 days ago with LR & tiger prawns

I've just checked the PH with my Hana tester & its 7.85!!! Also the salt shows 1.026 is this normal during a cycle or should I do a water change?

Cheers Shelton.

 

[Atari]

It's pretty normal for pH to be all over the place during cycling so don't worry about it.

Are you getting much evaporation? That could be a cause for the salinity change, aswell as temperature and general inaccuracy if you're using a hydrometer.

 

[Shultz]

Temp seems pretty much between 24.9C & 25.4C according to the digi thermo, has gone up today as mostly its 25C dead

Not seen much evap, though I am using a hydro (wasted £14 which I could have put towards a refract!)

The skimmer has started to remove gunk already, turned it down a bit as I noticed it was collecting a bit of dirty water rather than just slimey bubbles.

Just waiting 5mins to see what the AM is, got 0.5 yesterday but I can "smell" the prawns today 8O

Cheers Shelton.

 

[Shultz]

OK it seems like after only 3 days that the am is dropping & nitrites are well up, should it happen this quickly even with cured LR?


Date Salt PH Ammonia Nitrites Nitrates Notes

12.7.04 NT NT NT NT NT Water,Air Pump & Powerheads Only
13.7.04 NT NT NT NT NT Live Rock & Dead Prawns Added
14.7.04 1.025 8.1 0.5 0.5 10
15.7.04 1.026 7.85 1 NT NT Using Hana for PH now
16.7.04 1.025 7.85 0.5 5 NT Moved prawns into flow of maxijet


Cheers Shelton.