Hi Guys and Gals,
90ltr tank (approx 82ltr water)
1 x HOB 600l/h with sponge,filter wool and alfagrog
1 x internal filter 300l/h sponge crushed coral
gravel and ornaments
Temp 30 degree C since start, just lowered to 28c to see if any different
Water out the tap: 7.5pH, KH 3dkh GH about 8/9
I REALLY need some advice please! I am currently 51 days into my fishless cycle and still no end in sight, but have had some hiccups along the way..I had a pH crash after 7 days (from 7.5 out the tap to 6 ish) sorted that out with bicarb, cycle progressed adding 3ppm ammonia every 2/3 days when it reduced to under 1ppm, nitrites were showing up and so was nitrates
3 weeks in and i thought i was done, it cleared 3ppm in 24 hrs, but as a precaution i added another dose @3ppm, 24 hrs later i had not cleared amm or nitrite (both were very low though), advice on another forum suggested test for nitrates which i did (off the charts) so i was advised to change most of the water, which i did, but i forgot to add the bicarb!!!! 24 hrs later i ran the tests again....amm still at 3ppm, nitrite high, but my pH had dropped through the floor again (very yellow on API)!!! I added some more bicarb to fetch it back up and i also added approx 40gr of crushed coral to the filter at this point just as a safety net.
I then added amm at 1ppm, just to try and get it back on track, but it was taking between 2/3 days to process, once i had to successive 0ppm amm results i added 3ppm, but again this is taking at least 2 days to process, i added 3ppm ammonia yesterday...test results tonight:
Amm 3ppm
Nitrite 0.50ish ppm
Nitrate off the chart
pH 7.5
I am a bit wary of doing water changes because of the 2 Ph crashes, peeps on the other forum are out of ideas, LFS said i should just wait until amm and nitrite reduce to 0, not add anymore ammonia and change the water slowly over a 3 week period!!?? as i am cycled? really at a loss what to do and seriously sick of looking at an fishless tank!! (and the wife/kids asking when we are getting fish lol) Any ideas would be appreciated!
90ltr tank (approx 82ltr water)
1 x HOB 600l/h with sponge,filter wool and alfagrog
1 x internal filter 300l/h sponge crushed coral
gravel and ornaments
Temp 30 degree C since start, just lowered to 28c to see if any different
Water out the tap: 7.5pH, KH 3dkh GH about 8/9
I REALLY need some advice please! I am currently 51 days into my fishless cycle and still no end in sight, but have had some hiccups along the way..I had a pH crash after 7 days (from 7.5 out the tap to 6 ish) sorted that out with bicarb, cycle progressed adding 3ppm ammonia every 2/3 days when it reduced to under 1ppm, nitrites were showing up and so was nitrates
3 weeks in and i thought i was done, it cleared 3ppm in 24 hrs, but as a precaution i added another dose @3ppm, 24 hrs later i had not cleared amm or nitrite (both were very low though), advice on another forum suggested test for nitrates which i did (off the charts) so i was advised to change most of the water, which i did, but i forgot to add the bicarb!!!! 24 hrs later i ran the tests again....amm still at 3ppm, nitrite high, but my pH had dropped through the floor again (very yellow on API)!!! I added some more bicarb to fetch it back up and i also added approx 40gr of crushed coral to the filter at this point just as a safety net.
I then added amm at 1ppm, just to try and get it back on track, but it was taking between 2/3 days to process, once i had to successive 0ppm amm results i added 3ppm, but again this is taking at least 2 days to process, i added 3ppm ammonia yesterday...test results tonight:
Amm 3ppm
Nitrite 0.50ish ppm
Nitrate off the chart
pH 7.5
I am a bit wary of doing water changes because of the 2 Ph crashes, peeps on the other forum are out of ideas, LFS said i should just wait until amm and nitrite reduce to 0, not add anymore ammonia and change the water slowly over a 3 week period!!?? as i am cycled? really at a loss what to do and seriously sick of looking at an fishless tank!! (and the wife/kids asking when we are getting fish lol) Any ideas would be appreciated!
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