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Yeah the low ph for sure slows it down. Recommended to have 7ph or higher to cycle a tank but not always possible as was my case as well.
I went through same issue trying to cycle two 10 gallon tanks with Controsoil which brings the ph down to 6.4. Three weeks and was still not seeing any nitrates at all. Here is what I did to get them to finally and stay cycled.
Brought the temp up to 82 degrees. Also added some air stones for good aeration which is needed as the warmer it is the less oxygen and the BB need oxygen.
Was originally using RO water remineralized with salty shrimp with GH+. Ended up cycling with good ol tap water which gave me GH 5 and KH 5 with ph 7.6. But after a day of course due to buffering substrate would being KH to 0 and PH to 6.4. The time that the levels were higher though seemed to of help kickstart the BB. So if you are not using tap with your buffering substrate you should initially. Once you are cycled go ahead and use RO and remineralize the way you plan to.
Added 1ppm Phosphates as read this may help get it going as well.
Between those changes within two days I started getting Nitrates finally and 4 days later I was cycled.
I think it was a combo of those changes but it did work.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I went through same issue trying to cycle two 10 gallon tanks with Controsoil which brings the ph down to 6.4. Three weeks and was still not seeing any nitrates at all. Here is what I did to get them to finally and stay cycled.
Brought the temp up to 82 degrees. Also added some air stones for good aeration which is needed as the warmer it is the less oxygen and the BB need oxygen.
Was originally using RO water remineralized with salty shrimp with GH+. Ended up cycling with good ol tap water which gave me GH 5 and KH 5 with ph 7.6. But after a day of course due to buffering substrate would being KH to 0 and PH to 6.4. The time that the levels were higher though seemed to of help kickstart the BB. So if you are not using tap with your buffering substrate you should initially. Once you are cycled go ahead and use RO and remineralize the way you plan to.
Added 1ppm Phosphates as read this may help get it going as well.
Between those changes within two days I started getting Nitrates finally and 4 days later I was cycled.
I think it was a combo of those changes but it did work.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk