Hi,
I have been fishless cycling for 6 weeks and not seen a drop in nitrites? My setup and routine has been as follows:
-200litre/55g
-84F temp
-Fluval U4 internal filter Venturi on with good circulation and agitation
-Substrate and No Fish / No plants
-Lights off
-Brand New In Date API Master Kit
Major events in Cycle:
Days 1 -3 = Dosed to 5pmm with Household ammonia (no additives)
Day 4 = scavenged half a cup of gravel from established tank and put loose on top of substrate in one corner under filter (internal)
Day 11 = Ammonia began to drop to 4ppm (had not redosed yet) Nitrites showed up and went 5+ (dark purple). Nitrates 100+ (dark red)
Day 12 = Ammonia 3
Day 13 = Ammonia 0.25 Redosed to 3ppm. Nitrites 5+
Day 15 = Ammonia 0. Redosed to 3ppm. Nitrites 5+
Day 21 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Went grey after 20mins so did 25% PWC and redosed to 3ppm
Day 25 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+
Day 30 = Did 2x 75% PWC to bring readings onto scale. Got Nitrites to 0 and Nitrates to 60 afterwards. Redosed to 3 ppm
Day 31 = Ammonia 0. Redosed to 3ppm. Nitrites back up to 5+ (not instant purple on bottom of tube though.)
Day 36 = Ammonia 0. Did 35% PWC. Redosed to 3ppm.
Day 38 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Did not redose to allow Nitrite catch up (had read would not harm tank).
Day 39 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Redosed to 1ppm
Day 41 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Redosed to 1ppm. Added handful of seeded bio media inside bio tray in filter from well established tank.
Day 42 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+
Note PH is 7.6 and has been consistent.
Nitrates tested intermittently since ammonia dropped and always 100+ or more.
Am I on track still or is something slowing things down, the Nitrites and Nitrates seem to shoot up overnight and stayed there other than a temporary drop after the odd PWC.
My patience is just about holding...
Thanks.
Lighty.
I have been fishless cycling for 6 weeks and not seen a drop in nitrites? My setup and routine has been as follows:
-200litre/55g
-84F temp
-Fluval U4 internal filter Venturi on with good circulation and agitation
-Substrate and No Fish / No plants
-Lights off
-Brand New In Date API Master Kit
Major events in Cycle:
Days 1 -3 = Dosed to 5pmm with Household ammonia (no additives)
Day 4 = scavenged half a cup of gravel from established tank and put loose on top of substrate in one corner under filter (internal)
Day 11 = Ammonia began to drop to 4ppm (had not redosed yet) Nitrites showed up and went 5+ (dark purple). Nitrates 100+ (dark red)
Day 12 = Ammonia 3
Day 13 = Ammonia 0.25 Redosed to 3ppm. Nitrites 5+
Day 15 = Ammonia 0. Redosed to 3ppm. Nitrites 5+
Day 21 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Went grey after 20mins so did 25% PWC and redosed to 3ppm
Day 25 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+
Day 30 = Did 2x 75% PWC to bring readings onto scale. Got Nitrites to 0 and Nitrates to 60 afterwards. Redosed to 3 ppm
Day 31 = Ammonia 0. Redosed to 3ppm. Nitrites back up to 5+ (not instant purple on bottom of tube though.)
Day 36 = Ammonia 0. Did 35% PWC. Redosed to 3ppm.
Day 38 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Did not redose to allow Nitrite catch up (had read would not harm tank).
Day 39 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Redosed to 1ppm
Day 41 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+. Redosed to 1ppm. Added handful of seeded bio media inside bio tray in filter from well established tank.
Day 42 = Ammonia 0. Nitrites 5+
Note PH is 7.6 and has been consistent.
Nitrates tested intermittently since ammonia dropped and always 100+ or more.
Am I on track still or is something slowing things down, the Nitrites and Nitrates seem to shoot up overnight and stayed there other than a temporary drop after the odd PWC.
My patience is just about holding...
Thanks.
Lighty.