jlk
Aquarium Advice Addict
This hobby will teach you some patience (and just maybe to occasionally read directions...)! lol Let us know how your real numbers look!
jlk said:This hobby will teach you some patience (and just maybe to occasionally read directions...)! lol Let us know how your real numbers look!
Have a 60 gallon tank that im going to fish-less cycle here soon. Got a new baby that will be born here in two day so I have to wait a bit.
Question is : I have been doing a lot of research on fish-less cycling. If I'm right I am suppose to add ammonia to the water and wait for 1 hour and test it till I get a reading of 4 ppm. Test it every day till I get readings of nitrites and continue to dose to 4 ppm. Once I start seeing readings of nitrates then dose down to 2 ppm or ammonia. When my ammonia converts to to zero in a 24 hr period and have traces of nitrites and nitrates still, still dose 2 ppm. If nitrites spike do a water chance to get the numbers down. When readings of 0 in nitrites and ammonia and only have reading of nitrates. Then the cycle is done.
Am I right or not ?
jlk said:Nothing to worry about right now! A bit odd for nitrates to be in your tank already but we will just wait & watch & see how things progress. And, yes, my husband has 'selective hearing', too!
jlk said:Nothing to worry about right now! A bit odd for nitrates to be in your tank already but we will just wait & watch & see how things progress. And, yes, my husband has 'selective hearing', too!
jlk said:Yep, now you just wait for the ammonia to start dropping. Once it hits 2ppm (or lower) add back enough to bring it up to 4ppm. When it starts to drop, you should start seeing nitrites as well. One day at time!
Nitrates in your tap is actually pretty typical. I dont know if your on well or city water, but theres quite a few us with nitrates (me included) that run anywhere from 5 to as high as 80+. 5ppm is fine!
Ok- I didnt know you added a bacteria product. That may have something to do with your numbers in your tank. Whether they actually work or not is debatable- some people swear by them, others (like myself) think they do nothing more than empty your wallet. Granted, I have never tried them & just stick to letting mother nature do her job.
jlk said:Yep, perfectly fine! If theres any doubt about whats in your tap, condition it before adding it.
jlk said:Thats a great start! No need to add any more amm yet. lets wait for those numbers to drop down to a def lower number.