Hi guys, just after a bit of advice. I've just set up my aquarium and started the cycling process. I'm currently on day 5. I'm a bit worried about low PH and my cycle stalling. I live in a soft water area.
My results so far are
DAY 1 (Before Ammonia)
PH=7.8
AMMONIA=0
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=0
AMMONIA ADDED
DAY 2
PH=7.8
AMMONIA=2.0ppm
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=5.0ppm
DAY 3
PH=7.2
AMMONIA=1.0ppm
NITRITE=0.25ppm
NITRATE=5.0ppm
Ammonia added after test
DAY 4
PH=7
AMMONIA=2.0
NITRITE=0.50
NITRATE=5.0
Day 5 Results
PH 7
Ammonia=2.0ppm
Nitrite=1.0ppm
Nitrate=10ppm
Just for reference I am using Dr Tims Ammonia and FritzZyme TurboStart 700 and my tank is 240 litres (I think about 55 gallons US)
It was a bit tricky to read today's (day 5) results. PH is still either at 7 or just coming to 6.8, it was really hard to tell.
Interesting to me is the Ammonia was difficult to read, at the very least it's not changed from yesterday at 2.0ppm but it could have even rose a little to 4.0ppm. It was very hard to tell matching the chart colour. I expected the Ammonia to drop as before. It went down from 2.0ppm to 1.0ppm the day after adding Ammonia last time.
I purchased a API GH & KH test kit and my tap water i think is reading at 0 KH (test went straight to yellow with no blue) and GH is 5 = 89.5.
Looking at my results do you think my cycle will stall? I'm seriously thinking of getting some crushed coral, but then I hear other people say to use something like baking soda. I don't like the idea of constantly having to add chemicals. There is a vast wealth of information but some of it is contradictory.
Should I do a 30% water change to try and keep PH up tomorrow?
Any help or advice is most welcomed. I'm a relative novice to fish and aquariums, I'm trying to research and gain knowledge but need a bit of a nudge.
Many thanks
My results so far are
DAY 1 (Before Ammonia)
PH=7.8
AMMONIA=0
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=0
AMMONIA ADDED
DAY 2
PH=7.8
AMMONIA=2.0ppm
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=5.0ppm
DAY 3
PH=7.2
AMMONIA=1.0ppm
NITRITE=0.25ppm
NITRATE=5.0ppm
Ammonia added after test
DAY 4
PH=7
AMMONIA=2.0
NITRITE=0.50
NITRATE=5.0
Day 5 Results
PH 7
Ammonia=2.0ppm
Nitrite=1.0ppm
Nitrate=10ppm
Just for reference I am using Dr Tims Ammonia and FritzZyme TurboStart 700 and my tank is 240 litres (I think about 55 gallons US)
It was a bit tricky to read today's (day 5) results. PH is still either at 7 or just coming to 6.8, it was really hard to tell.
Interesting to me is the Ammonia was difficult to read, at the very least it's not changed from yesterday at 2.0ppm but it could have even rose a little to 4.0ppm. It was very hard to tell matching the chart colour. I expected the Ammonia to drop as before. It went down from 2.0ppm to 1.0ppm the day after adding Ammonia last time.
I purchased a API GH & KH test kit and my tap water i think is reading at 0 KH (test went straight to yellow with no blue) and GH is 5 = 89.5.
Looking at my results do you think my cycle will stall? I'm seriously thinking of getting some crushed coral, but then I hear other people say to use something like baking soda. I don't like the idea of constantly having to add chemicals. There is a vast wealth of information but some of it is contradictory.
Should I do a 30% water change to try and keep PH up tomorrow?
Any help or advice is most welcomed. I'm a relative novice to fish and aquariums, I'm trying to research and gain knowledge but need a bit of a nudge.
Many thanks
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