| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 tetralina3 |
|||
|
Posts: 13780 (03/19/09 03:00:31) Mad Scientist |
Wait another few days (3 or 4) of ammonia additions up to 2.0 then down close to zero and add 2.0 again. If the nitrites still stay the same colour (about 5)
then I think a waterchange (dechlorinated, same temp, same pH to avoid shocking the bacteria) might be in order.
Let us know the upcoming results and we can make a judgement call. 
t |
||
 ShellyB518 |
|||
|
Posts: 7461 (03/19/09 14:45:31) Administrator
|
I second t's recommendation with the water change.
|
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 42 (03/27/09 08:17:47) |
ok, after several more rounds of ammonia the nitrites are finally going down a little. Should we still do a water change or wait for them to go down more and
complete the cycle first? should I also be watching for the nitrates to go up?
|
||
|
tetralina3 |
|||
|
Posts: 13930 (03/28/09 03:12:51) Mad Scientist |
Can you tell us both the nitrIte and nitrAte readings? Oh, the pH too.
Then we can tell you whether you should do the waterchange now or wait a bit for the cycle to end. Great job! 
t |
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 44 (03/28/09 20:12:21) |
pH - between 7.2-7.6
nitrate - 5.0 nitrite - slightly below 1.0 (I'm not sure if it was at 1.0 or 5.0 all along, as the colors for both are extremely similar, but I never saw it at 2.0. Now it definitely seems to be on the 1.0 side, just slightly lighter going towards 0.5) Thanks, Miriam |
||
|
pegzee |
|||
|
Posts: 752 (03/28/09 20:49:36) True-Blue LFS Extraordinaire |
T and Shelly, You guys just can't get enough, can you? Maybe it is time you start realizing that maybe you have a problem?
|
||
|
tetralina3 |
|||
|
Posts: 13953 (03/28/09 21:50:11) Mad Scientist |
Whoo hoo. I would hang on another couple of days to see if the nitrites hit zero. Keep up the ammonia additions, of course.
 Peg: Where there is a need for testing, we swear to encourage it. Where there is no need to test but it would be fun anyways, same thing.
Yup. No 12 step for testers yet. So, in the meantime, while the cat is away . . . test away . . .
t |
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 45 (03/28/09 22:00:16) |
oh, also I wanted to mention - probably since I have been trying to cycle this tank since January without changing the water - but it has started building
quite the algae. I have a couple of shells in there, and the tops are like dark green. Also, at this point the sides of the tank walls are turning greenish as
well.
|
||
|
tetralina3 |
|||
|
Posts: 13954 (03/29/09 02:41:59) Mad Scientist |
Good thing to know. When you do your post-cycle larger waterchange, which hopefully will be relatively soon, |
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 48 (03/29/09 21:16:24) |
I was wondering if I should put my heater in there now? Should I heat it up little by little, to not damage the bacteria?
|
||
|
tetralina3 |
|||
|
Posts: 13970 (03/30/09 00:51:17) Mad Scientist |
Great idea.
t |
||
|
ShellyB518 |
|||
|
Posts: 7526 (04/01/09 16:43:06) Administrator
|
A heater would be great. Warmer water can actually cycle a tank a bit quicker.
|
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 51 (04/03/09 21:26:04) |
The numbers are still the same,
pH - between 7.2-7.6 nitrate - 5.0 nitrite - slightly below 1.0 Miriam |
||
|
ShellyB518 |
|||
|
Posts: 7570 (04/03/09 22:01:55) Administrator
|
What are the ammonia levels at? How often and how much ammonia is being added?
|
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 52 (04/04/09 20:08:11) |
I add 2.0 of ammonia when it gets to almost, but not quite 0. That usually has been taking 36 hours.
|
||
|
ShellyB518 |
|||
|
Posts: 7585 (04/04/09 21:23:36) Administrator
|
This is taking longer than I would have anticipated. Is there any way you could post ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH daily? Also remind me of the tank
size and temp. What brand of filter (a pic would work too) and what type of filter media is in the tank. How often do you do water changes and what water
conditioner are you using? I am scratching my head a little on this one so refreshing my memory and daily tabs will help with finishing this up.
|
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 53 (04/05/09 20:35:39) |
I have a 5 gallon, Marineland tank. It has a bio-wheel that I am using, but I am not using the filter that came with it b/c it has carbon in it. I bought some
plain filter fabric thing that I have added, it is just sponge-like fabric. The temp as of yesterday, when I started the heater is 81 - before it was around 75
by itself. I did not use any water conditioner and I am not changing the water at all. I have had to add a little water a couple of times, due to evaporation
and water testing. The numbers are unchanged still at
pH - between 7.2-7.6 nitrate - 5.0 nitrite - slightly below 1.0 At this point I am thinking maybe I should just use the carbon filter it came with, and forget this whole thing. The instruction that came with the tank when I bought it said I just needed to do 20-25% water changes once a week or something, so it seems to have the same effect as if it is cycled. It just doesn't seem to be working. Thank you, Miriam |
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 54 (04/05/09 20:37:18) |
Oh, inside the tank I have two shells and some fish gravel I bought at the pet store. And now also the heater and thermometer.
|
||
|
tetralina3 |
|||
|
Posts: 14121 (04/06/09 03:15:26) Mad Scientist |
Don't change out the filter because that will start the cycle all over again since you would lose the bacteria on it. (You definitely don't want to
use carbon in any case.)
|
||
|
mpala |
|||
|
Posts: 55 (04/06/09 09:12:32) |
There's a little space built in for the filter before the water gets to the bio-wheel up top, all contained in the top area of the tank.
|
||
