eco23
Aquarium Advice Addict
You want to have a nice piece of decaying shrimp still in there with the ammo and nitrIte readings constantly at 0. Then you're ready to go.
eco23 said:You want to have a nice piece of decaying shrimp still in there with the ammo and nitrIte readings constantly at 0. Then you're ready to go.
momo said:Really?
momo said:Okay i finally got nitrites back. And there is alot. Almost 2ppm
eco23 said:Hey Momo. Yeah just leave that nasty thing in there until you're reading 0 ammo and 0 nitrItes. If the nitrIte level gets so high that you can't measure it, do a 50% pwc.
momo said:You dont want the nitrites that high?
momo said:Ammo hit zero witht the shrimp in it!!!! And nitrite is very very low
eco23 said:Awesome dude! Wait it out a bit longer until the nitrItes are definitely at 0 along with the ammo. Do you know your nitrAte level?
eco23 said:Awesome dude! Wait it out a bit longer until the nitrItes are definitely at 0 along with the ammo. Do you know your nitrAte level?
eco23 said:Awesome. Here's what to do...leave everything exactly like it is for a couple days. Let the bacteria stabilize and hold the ammo and no2 at 0 for a couple days. Then, the day before you get fish do a massive 90% water change and get the nitrAtes as low as possible. If you've got your heater cranked up to help with the cycle go ahead and turn it down so it doesn't cook your fish. You're just about done! Good job!
As for the pH...using chemicals to alter pH is a slippery and dangerous slope. There are some natural materials you can run in your filter like peat moss that lower pH a bit, but it can be damaging and deadly to your fish to try and adjust pH.
The majority of fish can adjust to pH levels, what they can't handle is fluctuating pH. They would rather be in stable pH, as opposed to what a book tells you is their ideal pH.
For example, say the water out of the tap is 8, and the water in your tank is 6...every time you do a 50% pwc it causes a sudden and dramatic shock to the fish because you're instantly causing a pH swing of a solid point. There are ways to prepare your water you plan on using for the pwc ahead of time...but it takes extra work and patience.
So, in 99.9% of situations, you should choose fish that suit your water...not water that suits your fish.
You should post on the guide thread that you just about finished your cycle so other people can see how successful it can be. Hopefully the more people who see that fishless cycling works, the more will do it.
eco23 said:Post some pics there too once you get your fish!