Dr. Tim's One and Only

[Delapool]

Have to be a lot of wrong tests I think as I've seen people do the test wrong and then get good results doing the test as per instructions.


But have also seen the test kit go bad if bottle cap left off or in hot summer so perhaps other causes as well.

 

[MDDad]

There's just absolutely no way that nitrates went from five times with my well water is, to half of my well water nitrate content, without me doing a water change.

 

[MDDad]

I did a 90% PWC. Nitrites are still testing at about 5 ppm, which means they were really around 50 ppm or more, and were actually off the charts high. That might be why nothing was happening.

Before, the test was turning color almost immediately, and not taking the full five minutes. This time, it didn't really start looking magenta until around 3 to 3 1/2 minutes in.

 

[Fresh2o]

Sounds like the second phase of cycling (nitrite conversion) is still in progress. It takes longer than the first phase unfortunately. Hang in there.

 

[MDDad]

Sounds like the second phase of cycling (nitrite conversion) is still in progress. It takes longer than the first phase unfortunately. Hang in there.

My ammonia is being taken from 2 to 0 in about 24 hours...but every time that happens, it's adding more and more nitrites. Since nitrites are already on the high side, can I skip a day of adding ammonia, without jeopardizing the ammonia bacteria, to allow the nitrite bacteria to catch up?

 

[Caliban07]

My ammonia is being taken from 2 to 0 in about 24 hours...but every time that happens, it's adding more and more nitrites. Since nitrites are already on the high side, can I skip a day of adding ammonia, without jeopardizing the ammonia bacteria, to allow the nitrite bacteria to catch up?

Absolutely. How long have you been cycling now? 10-12 days?

 

[MDDad]

Absolutely. How long have you been cycling now? 10-12 days?

About that, yeah.

So, if I skip one day, should I just go put it in another 2 ppm ammonia in tomorrow night instead of tonight? I don't want to lose the ammonia bacteria.

 

[Barliman]

About that, yeah.

So, if I skip one day, should I just go put it in another 2 ppm ammonia in tomorrow night instead of tonight? I don't want to lose the ammonia bacteria.

You won't lose them after only a day. I might even wait until the nitrites decrease to sub-1.0 before adding ammonia.

 

[MDDad]

So why does the pH go up after a WC? Everybody says the pH stability is the most important thing, but every time I change the water, it goes up about half a point. Then it slowly trickles down again.

 

[Barliman]

So why does the pH go up after a WC? Everybody says the pH stability is the most important thing, but every time I change the water, it goes up about half a point. Then it slowly trickles down again.

How much are you changing at a time?

 

[MDDad]

Nitrites are zero! I tested twice to be sure.

Dosed ammonia back up to 2ppm. Fingers crossed...

 

[Barliman]

Nitrites are zero! I tested twice to be sure.

Dosed ammonia back up to 2ppm. Fingers crossed...

Good news! Have you tested since?

 

[MDDad]

It's taking only 24 hours for 2ppm of ammonia to disappear, but it's taking two days for the nitrites to go to zero...what gives?

 

[Caliban07]

It's taking only 24 hours for 2ppm of ammonia to disappear, but it's taking two days for the nitrites to go to zero...what gives?

Nothing. How many days are you on now?

 

[MDDad]

Nothing. How many days are you on now?

I've lost track at this point. Two and a half weeks since adding Dr. Tim's.

 

[Caliban07]

Please read this thread. I believe you should be somewhere round here.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/post-your-cycling-times-please-350626.html

 

[MDDad]

It's still consistently taking two days to get the nitrites to zero. I dose with 1.5 to 2.0 ppm of Ammonia, it's gone in 12 hours, but the nitrites take about 48-60 hours to go back to zero. It doesn't seem to be getting any better than that.

Am I stalled for some reason?

OK - another question - if I stock my 29G with about 10 fish now (probably glowlight or black tetras and platies), which is under-capacity if you figure they're probably about 1" each on average, would I be "OK" to do that? My thought is, would they produce a lower amount of ammonia (and therefore nitrites) than the 2.0 ppm I've been cycling with?

 

[Caliban07]

It's still consistently taking two days to get the nitrites to zero. I dose with 1.5 to 2.0 ppm of Ammonia, it's gone in 12 hours, but the nitrites take about 48-60 hours to go back to zero. It doesn't seem to be getting any better than that.

Am I stalled for some reason?

OK - another question - if I stock my 29G with about 10 fish now (probably glowlight or black tetras and platies), which is under-capacity if you figure they're probably about 1" each on average, would I be "OK" to do that? My thought is, would they produce a lower amount of ammonia (and therefore nitrites) than the 2.0 ppm I've been cycling with?

In the article provided in the link I posted above nitrites disappeared beyond detection on day 29. You've been going for about 22 days. Your only about just over a week away now is my guess.

It's not worth adding fish in to this tank because it is still unstable.

You are nearly there. You've done most of the hard work and are definitely not stalled. This part takes the most patience. It WILL cycle.

Keep us updated.