is my cycle over?

[pejerrey]

What are you using to test?

[Diana]

then dose ammonia back up to ~4ppm

no, 3 ppm max.

[thebuddha]

Originally Posted by pejerrey

What are you using to test?

API master test kit

Originally Posted by Diana

no, 3 ppm max.

hmm...i have been dosing to 4ppm this whole past month...ill cut down now.



Current readings:
ammonia=0
nitrites=0
nitrates=somewhere between 20 and 40



just added ammonia, now i wait another dayyyyyy

[thebuddha]

current readings:
ammonia = 1-2ppm
nitrite > 5ppm
nitrate = 40-80ppm


another WC to get rid of nitrites???

[pejerrey]

As far as I know, water changes make it slower... Not sure tho, someone chime in on that?

[MSG]

When I speed cycled my 10G, I didn't CHANGE the water. I only started with about 5-6G and kept adding dirty water from the betta tanks.

I pumped up the heat to the 80's but the tank was ACTUALLY 98 degrees for 4-5 days.


Bud, do you have anything that will absorb the nitrates?

I'm not crazy about the filter you're using. I typically use the HOB style filters. In tank ones are troublesome to maintain.

[thebuddha]

Originally Posted by MSG

When I speed cycled my 10G, I didn't CHANGE the water. I only started with about 5-6G and kept adding dirty water from the betta tanks.

I pumped up the heat to the 80's but the tank was ACTUALLY 98 degrees for 4-5 days.


Bud, do you have anything that will absorb the nitrates?

I'm not crazy about the filter you're using. I typically use the HOB style filters. In tank ones are troublesome to maintain.

sorry i never answered your question form your first post on this thread, yes i have an air stone and i did throw it in the tank.

i don't think i have anything that will absorb the nitrates...what could?
and i really dont like the filter either, but its all i have....for now!

[Diana]

Do water changes to keep the nitrites under 5 ppm.

When you feed too much ammonia the first population of bacteria turn it into too much nitrite faster than the second population can get rid of it. That is why you aim for 3 ppm max on the ammonia. That much generally will not make the nitrite spike too high.

[thebuddha]

Originally Posted by Diana

Do water changes to keep the nitrites under 5 ppm.

When you feed too much ammonia the first population of bacteria turn it into too much nitrite faster than the second population can get rid of it. That is why you aim for 3 ppm max on the ammonia. That much generally will not make the nitrite spike too high.

okay. so it will be complete when:
i dose 3ppm of ammonia, and in 24 hours i get readings of 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and any amount of nitrates. then do a wc to get rid of excess nitrates. then its ready?

but isnt it bad to have 0 ammonia, because then some of my nitrifying bacteria would die off?

[discuspaul]

The bacteria will not die off so long as you keep adding ammonia, or a source for producing ammonia, like some fish. So when your ammonia & nitrites are '0' and your nitrates low after a wc, your cycle is complete and i'ts time to add your fish.