Hooray for nitrItes! Update: cycle complete!

[ryorgason]

I had about 5.5 ppm ammonia on Friday when I seeded my 30 gal tank, and Saturday it was the same. Then I didn't get a chance to test again until today, and ammonia was at 0 and nitrItes at 5+. So my cycle is going at a good pace already, and I added in more ammonia. Now I just hope it keeps going as it is so I can have fish again soon! I guess I'd better figure out what kind of fish I want (besides cories).

 

[SparKy697]

Nice, another record cycle.

 

[neilanh]

You guys are killing me....

 

[LandGhoti]

Woo hooo!! That was FAST.

 

[locorosa]

I think it's all about the seed material!

 

[Zagz]

No doubt about it, seeding material works wonder. Congrats on the speed of your cycle.

 

[tropicfishman]

congrads!!! soon you'll be decorating, adding fish and having a field day with your tank lol let us know how things keep going

 

[ryorgason]

My nitrIes have been sitting there at 5+ ppm since the 29th or 30th, and nitrAtes have been at about 5 ppm since the 31st. So being naturally anxious to speed up my cycle and get fish as soon as possible, I sought out new seed material today. I got 4 bio balls (which I had never heard of before) at an LFS today, and added them to my filter this afternoon.

Tonight I tested, and came up with 0 nitrItes and 20 ppm nitrAtes! Yippee, progress! However, ammonian was at .5 ppm, even though it's been at 0 since the 29th or 30th. I hope that doesn't mean my cycle is stalling! I will try adding a smaller amount of ammonia than usual, and see where it stands tomorrow. I'm really hoping I can get fish by the end of the week!

 

[neilanh]

I'd do your normal dose. I bet you'll turn it out quick.

 

[rich311k]

Sounds like your new seed did the trick, you are almost certainly only a day or two away. Add 2ppm ammonia and see where you are in 24 hours.

 

[ryorgason]

I added my normal dose of ammonia, so it is between 2 and 3 ppm now. I guess I just have to wait til tomorrow to see what happens!

 

[ryorgason]

I hadn't been checking my ph, and Sunday ammonia was at nearly 1 ppm. So I did a ph test and it was down to nearly 6! After a 50-60% water change, it was still lower than I would like (about 6.5), so I added a little pinch of baking soda. Monday morning it was up to 7, and last night things were looking really good!

ammonia: 0
nitrItes: just a trace
nitrAtes: 20
ph: 7

So it looks like my tank is pretty much cycled, and it has been less than 2 weeks since I added the first seed material! I will check tonight to make sure everthing is still good, and then hopefully get fish tomorrow or Thursday! I think next time I cycle a tank, in addition to checking the ph more often, I will try to seed it both at the beginning, and as soon as I see nitrItes.

 

[neilanh]

Excellent, Congrats!

Figure out your stock list?