TreeDimensional
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- May 15, 2022
- Messages
- 2
I am attempting a fishless cycle in my first ever aquarium (a 20g, Superfish Scaper 90). Currently on day 6 and things aren't what I was expecting. Here's how it's gone so far:
Day 1: Set up, add substrate/rocks/wood, add water + Prime, leave running overnight
Day 2: Measured baseline parameters and added Stability (and have done every day since).
pH: 7.4-7.6 (both normal and high-range were at the limit so I assume it's inbetween)
Ammonia: 0.25-0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
Day 3: Added plants and a small pinch of fish food
Ammonia: 0.25-0.5
Nitrite: 0.25-0.5
Nitrate: 40
Day 4: Dosed ammonia up to 4ppm
Ammonia: 4
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 80
Day 5:
Ammonia: 2
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 160
Day 6 (today): Did a 50% water change to reduce Nitrates as I heard too high can stall the cycle
Ammonia: 1 (before w.c.), 0.25-0.5 (after w.c.)
Nitrite: 2/0.5
Nitrate: 160/80-160
I have just added ammonia back up to 4 and will continue to measure until it can get to 0 within 24 hours along with the nitrites.
So here are my observations/unexpected behaviour:
1) Ammonia has gone down a lot quicker than I was expecting. Everything I've read/watched has suggested this is a slow process, but I went from a strong 4.0 on day 4 to 2.0 on day 5. I haven't got any previously used filter media or anything, so my only assumption is either the Stability is really going at it, or the plants I bought from the shop have brought some bacteria over?
2) Nitrates are really quite high, is this something to worry about?
3) I thought things would happen in a linear progression (Ammonia -> nitrites -> nitrates) all in a measurable manner, but it seems a bit haywire. Does anyone else have experience similar to this?
I suppose I'm just looking for some reassurance that I'm on the right track. A few snails hitchiked along with the plants, but they seem to be faring everything pretty well.
Day 1: Set up, add substrate/rocks/wood, add water + Prime, leave running overnight
Day 2: Measured baseline parameters and added Stability (and have done every day since).
pH: 7.4-7.6 (both normal and high-range were at the limit so I assume it's inbetween)
Ammonia: 0.25-0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
Day 3: Added plants and a small pinch of fish food
Ammonia: 0.25-0.5
Nitrite: 0.25-0.5
Nitrate: 40
Day 4: Dosed ammonia up to 4ppm
Ammonia: 4
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 80
Day 5:
Ammonia: 2
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 160
Day 6 (today): Did a 50% water change to reduce Nitrates as I heard too high can stall the cycle
Ammonia: 1 (before w.c.), 0.25-0.5 (after w.c.)
Nitrite: 2/0.5
Nitrate: 160/80-160
I have just added ammonia back up to 4 and will continue to measure until it can get to 0 within 24 hours along with the nitrites.
So here are my observations/unexpected behaviour:
1) Ammonia has gone down a lot quicker than I was expecting. Everything I've read/watched has suggested this is a slow process, but I went from a strong 4.0 on day 4 to 2.0 on day 5. I haven't got any previously used filter media or anything, so my only assumption is either the Stability is really going at it, or the plants I bought from the shop have brought some bacteria over?
2) Nitrates are really quite high, is this something to worry about?
3) I thought things would happen in a linear progression (Ammonia -> nitrites -> nitrates) all in a measurable manner, but it seems a bit haywire. Does anyone else have experience similar to this?
I suppose I'm just looking for some reassurance that I'm on the right track. A few snails hitchiked along with the plants, but they seem to be faring everything pretty well.