Jonnypro
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Messages
- 388
I'd say you're on track. You'll be done once the ammonia and nitrites hit zero so its looking like you've got a little ways to go. Are you testing your PH levels as well?
With the ammonia at zero, put a raw cocktail shrimp in old pantyhose and drop it in. That will keep feeding the nitrifying bacteria. Eventually, ammonia and nitrite will zero out and nitrates will climb. When the ammonia and nitrite are zero for a week or two, you're done. Dump the water, add freshly mixed water and you're set.
Don't do any water changes until then. If it gets stinky, run carbon in the tank. Just make sure you have a heater and good flow in there.
I agree 100%, but why dump the water if it reads good? I understand he may be missing a few ppm in alkalinity, calcium, magnesium... But isn't it cheaper to put in a cap of supplements?
You have to change the water to lower the nitrates. I don't think there is a chemical or critter that will lower them. I had to do a major water change 80% or so then a few more smaller ones after that to get my trates down low. I got them at or below 5 but I read that under 20 is ok for adding fish.
If you cycle a tank without your nitrates going down you don't have any bacteria and means you did something wrong!
If you cycle a tank without your nitrates going down you don't have any bacteria and means you did something wrong!
You have to change the water to lower the nitrates. I don't think there is a chemical or critter that will lower them. I had to do a major water change 80% or so then a few more smaller ones after that to get my trates down low. I got them at or below 5 but I read that under 20 is ok for adding fish.
Nothing will bring down nitrAtes besides water changes.
Than why does my sh** read 0 when done cycling proses?
Than why does my sh** read 0 when done cycling proses?
No need for the language.
The only way for nitrAtes to drop without PWCs is if is converted to nitrogen gas. The presence of 'trAtes in the water indicates BB are there.
If no BB were there, ammonia would rise nonstop and no nitrites or nitrates would appear.
So what converts nitrates into nitrogen gas!?!
De-nitrification. Read here: Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle & Cycling | Methods for Ammonia & Nitrite Removal
Some plants can also consume nitrates.