36G startup - Fishless Cycling

[mommytron]

try to keep nitrate even lower than that. i don't know what the turning point is but when the cycle on my hex tank stalled it was because i let nitrates climb to 160ppm.

you're almost there, nitrite should start dropping any day now.

 

[j2112j]

you're almost there, nitrite should start dropping any day now.

Hope so
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May 15 - 8:00 am PWC 25% - did not redose ammo
Ammo 0.25
nitrIte 1.00
nitrAte 80
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May 16 - 8:00 am
Ammo 0.00
nitrIte 0.50
nitrAte 60

25% PWC - redose ammo
Ammo 2.0
nitrIte 0.25
nitrAte 20
------------------------------
Hopefully ammo and nitrItes drop to near 0 by tomorrow morning

 

[j2112j]

May 18
Ammo 0.50... from 2.0 (May16)
nitrIte 2.00 or higher
nitrAte 40 or so

My ph out of tap is around 8.2 but the tank had settled to around 7.4 for a about 6 weeks. I tested ph yesterday and it was in the lower range for the 1st time (6.?). I assume this is a fishless cycle ph crash ?

Did a 50% pwc yesterday and today the ph is a little higher, but still lower than the previously stable 7.4.

Not really sure what to do at this point.

 

[j2112j]

May 19
ph 7.4
Ammo 0.25
nitrIte 2.00
nitrAte 40
------------------------------
May 20
ph 7.0
Ammo 0.25
nitrIte 0.25 (that looks good)
nitrAte 30

- Redosed Ammo to 2.0 ppm
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Want to see 0 ammo\nitItes by monday (May 23rd) morning

 

[j2112j]

May 22nd (10% pwc just to suck up some diatoms)
-----------------------------------------------------
May 23rd
ph 7.2
Ammonia 0 (from 2.0, May 20)
nitrIte 0.25 (usually rises after ammo conversion)
nitrAte 30 (I guess plants are keeping this low)
-----------------------------------------------------
Well I'm crossing my fingers that this is finally near done cycling.
The nitrItes have finally stopped rising after ammonia conversion, haven't seen them above 0.25 for 4 days now.

I'm going to stir up my substrate and do a big pwc to get rid of some of the diatoms, rinse filters (diatoms again) and then redose ammo as usual.
Maybe I will actually have fish at the end of May

 

[j2112j]

May 25
Ammonia 0 (from 2.0 on May 23)
nitrIte 0
nitrAte 30 to 40

Seems ammo and nitrItes are being converted consistantly now, finally

I guess the few plants I have are keeping nitrAte levels from building too quickly, which is nice.