Beginner

[sanchezkk]

Well, my tank was up and cycling for 3 weeks before I started this fishless cycle.

 

[sanchezkk]

Ok. Please understand I'm very inquisitive. I just used the Tetra EasyStrips and it showed my nitrates and nitrites off the charts. I heard that they were not as reliable as the API Test Kit.

 

[TigerBarbs]

Test strips suck! A high quality liquid test kit is a must. I use API which is okay. But I've heard salifert are awesome.

 

[sanchezkk]

Ok. Thx I have a good question. Since the ammonia is being devoured quickly, like it's going from 4ppm to. 25ppm in approximately 4 hours so, do I need to be getting up in the middle of the night to douse every 4 hours?

 

[TigerBarbs]

No. As long as you add more in the morning it should be good

 

[TigerBarbs]

Sounds like you're getting one heck of a biofilter goin!

 

[sanchezkk]

I sure hope so. One more question. How long can my tank go without attention during these beginning stages?

 

[TigerBarbs]

What kind of attention do u mean? Adding ammonia?

 

[sanchezkk]

Yes, adding ammo

 

[TigerBarbs]

Don't let it go down to zero if you can.

 

[sanchezkk]

If it does what's the worst case scenario if I can't get to it before things start heading south?

 

[TigerBarbs]

You might lose some bacteria. I don't think it's a big deal unless they don't have ammonia for a decent amount of time

 

[sanchezkk]

Decent to your definition is?

 

[sanchezkk]

These are my numbers as of today, 03/14/2012

Temperature: 86 F
pH: 8.2
Salinity: 1.023 SG
Nitrate: 20 mg/l
Nitrite: 5.0 mg/l
Ammonia: 0 mg/l

 

[SeanMonster]

Your temp seems kind of high. You don't have your heater set that high do you?

 

[sanchezkk]

I'm cycling my tank and bacteria thrives under warmer conditions. When I get my fish they will be in cooler water. If I leave it like that they will be in a sauna.

 

[SeanMonster]

I'm cycling my tank and bacteria thrives under warmer conditions. When I get my fish they will be in cooler water. If I leave it like that they will be in a sauna.

I agree about the sauna comment. Just didn't run my temp that high during the cycle so was wondering. Not sure 6 to 8 degrees makes that much of a difference on bacteria production (microbiologist by profession). Most bacteria thrive between 77 and 104F. Maybe if you jacked the heat up to 100F.

 

[sanchezkk]

I thought any higher would not be good for them.

 

[sanchezkk]

Also, are you already cycled?

 

[SeanMonster]

Also, are you already cycled?

Yes. Finished my cycle in September. I was just saying that if you left the temp between 78F and 80F you would probably cycle the same as your current temp, IMO.