When is my tank cycle finished? I have nitrates...

Gold Finger · 11-12-2012, 01:37 AM

Odd. As though something crashed your nitrosamonas population. Perhaps something in the new plants. The interactions are often unpredictable until fully cycled. I hope and imagine it will sort itself out quickly though. By the way, I have done fish in with seachems stability at 80 degrees in 8 days without signifigant ammonia or nitrite spikes. They use a waterborne bacteria along with the normal ones which is added daily to keep the waterborne population high enough to absorb excess ammonia and nitrate until the "normal" surface based Ammonia and nitrite colonies get up to speed. The lower levels of toxins allow the normal bacs to establish faster and without stalling. At least it worked once for me.

DannyDapper · 11-15-2012, 10:27 PM

So I figured out that what I thought was .25 ppm in ammonia was actually 0, it was just hard to see the difference but I did 1 tube from the tank, one from the tap and 1 from RO water and they all looked exactly the same! So I think my tank is finally cycled!

Diana · 11-15-2012, 10:39 PM

That is great!
Good that you figured out why you were seeing that trace of ammonia.
I also have trouble reading the test tube results, especially if there is something in the background that is similar to the color I am trying to read. The tests tubes will reflect the color from the sky, trees, curtains, furniture... Anything nearby. Gotta make sure you are looking at it against a large white background, and in good light. Looking straight down the tube from the top helps with some tests, too.

BenderBendingRodriguez · 11-16-2012, 06:43 AM

I use a YSI 9300 ecosense photometer. No human error with that thing lemme tell ya. Almost too accurate.

DannyDapper · 11-19-2012, 03:19 AM

Fancy! haha. I stocked my tank the very same day and 3 days later all my new fish are happy as can be =)

11-12-2012, 01:37 AM	#16
Gold Finger Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wpg. MB Canada Posts: 819	Odd. As though something crashed your nitrosamonas population. Perhaps something in the new plants. The interactions are often unpredictable until fully cycled. I hope and imagine it will sort itself out quickly though. By the way, I have done fish in with seachems stability at 80 degrees in 8 days without signifigant ammonia or nitrite spikes. They use a waterborne bacteria along with the normal ones which is added daily to keep the waterborne population high enough to absorb excess ammonia and nitrate until the "normal" surface based Ammonia and nitrite colonies get up to speed. The lower levels of toxins allow the normal bacs to establish faster and without stalling. At least it worked once for me. __________________ Ver. 1.0 80 gallon dirt goldfish tank (defunct) Ver. 2.0 bare bottom same tank another approach (defunct) Ver. 3.0 Pool filter sand same tank now Farming Algae Goldfish are among the worst fish for beginners.

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11-15-2012, 10:27 PM	#17
DannyDapper Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Azusa, CA Posts: 85	So I figured out that what I thought was .25 ppm in ammonia was actually 0, it was just hard to see the difference but I did 1 tube from the tank, one from the tap and 1 from RO water and they all looked exactly the same! So I think my tank is finally cycled!

11-15-2012, 10:39 PM	#18
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,017	That is great! Good that you figured out why you were seeing that trace of ammonia. I also have trouble reading the test tube results, especially if there is something in the background that is similar to the color I am trying to read. The tests tubes will reflect the color from the sky, trees, curtains, furniture... Anything nearby. Gotta make sure you are looking at it against a large white background, and in good light. Looking straight down the tube from the top helps with some tests, too.

11-16-2012, 06:43 AM	#19
BenderBendingRodriguez Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: AL, Alabama Posts: 173	I use a YSI 9300 ecosense photometer. No human error with that thing lemme tell ya. Almost too accurate.

11-19-2012, 03:19 AM	#20
DannyDapper Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Azusa, CA Posts: 85	Fancy! haha. I stocked my tank the very same day and 3 days later all my new fish are happy as can be =)