[MurkyWanders]

Hi everyone, I'm new around here. I have a 15 Gallon Fluval Flex, planted with some driftwood and a piece of dragonstone, the PH is buffered down to and stable at 6-6.1, through re-mineralized distilled water changes every couple of weeks. I cannot use the extremely hard and sulfurous water from my well. The tank is now over a month old using the fishless start method, dosing the Ammonia to 3ppm, tank kept at a stable 78 degrees and with the use of Fritz turbostart bought from the LFS fridge in the beginning. I understand the NH3 is being converted to NH4+ by the low PH water and being taken up by the plants gradually, but what I am not seeing at all is Nitrites. Even with the Nitrifying bacteria being only ~10% efficient (as per some sources) at 6-6.1PH I feel like I should be seeing some nitrites in my water by now. I would like to keep my stratum's buffering ability as intact as possible for the future of the tank, so I would prefer not to offset it by supplementing KH. I am interested in the process / timeline and method others with low PH buffered tanks have used to achieve a stable cycle. Thank you for your time and guidance.

Edit: And if anyone happens to recognize the buildup on my silicone, I'd love to know what it is! It looks like bacterial colonies to me, but it is unsightly.

-Murky W.

 

[somewhatshocked]

water changes every couple of weeks

No need to do water changes while undergoing a fishless cycle.

Even with the Nitrifying bacteria being only ~10% efficient (as per some sources) at 6-6.1PH

I routinely cycle tanks with much lower pH and temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit. So 6 should be fine.

I feel like I should be seeing some nitrites in my water by now.

Your tank may already have had a nitrite spike. It could have happened in a matter of hours such that you would not have been able to detect it if you were testing every day. If that's the case, you'll know your tank is 'cycled' once it can process a fixed concentration of ammonia (3PPM, for example) within a 24 hour period with no detectible nitrite.

Edit: And if anyone happens to recognize the buildup on my silicone, I'd love to know what it is! It looks like bacterial colonies to me, but it is unsightly.

Not specifically sure what it's called but it's a normal growth with new tanks. Nothing at all to worry about it.

 

[MurkyWanders]

Your tank may already have had a nitrite spike. It could have happened in a matter of hours such that you would not have been able to detect it if you were testing every day. If that's the case, you'll know your tank is 'cycled' once it can process a fixed concentration of ammonia (3PPM, for example) within a 24 hour period with no detectible nitrite.

I've tested this theory, and the ammonia is still present at near the same level as when it was dosed to ~3ppm a couple days afterwards, with no nitrites. It's taking upwards of a week to dissipate, which I believe is just the plants uptaking the NH4+ I don't think I've reached nitrification, but could definitely be wrong.

I will stop any water changes in an attempt to edge the PH upwards as per your advice on the matter.

When you cycle at low PH and low temp how long does it usually take for you? I'm not really that impatient with this, I like the idea of my plants filling in some before stocking the tank, but I do want to make sure I'm giving it the best opportunity for success that I can. The tank still seems pretty sterile to me, and that seems strange in comparison to my tanks years ago that were much much simpler (think petco gravel and a shipwreck with a cartridge HOB).

Luckily the plants are all doing well, except the Val, but I'm having second thoughts on keeping it in there anyway.


Thanks for helping me out Somewhatshocked!

 

[somewhatshocked]

I will stop any water changes in an attempt to edge the PH upwards as per your advice on the matter.

Definitely don't try to chase pH. Just let it rest where it will be once the tank is cycled.

When you cycle at low PH and low temp how long does it usually take for you?

Usually about 4-6 weeks, circumstances depending. I usually cycle with substrates that release a ton more ammonia and my water is always in the low 60s if I can help it. pH from ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia is sometimes around 4.9/5. kH 0, gH 5-6. It's sometimes taken 8-10 weeks or longer but that's only been on a few occasions.

Since you have warmer temperatures and much less acidic (10x less at least) conditions, your tank should probably be done in another month or so. I would expect that you may not see a nitrite spike, though, and may want to focus on watching ammonia get consumed and eventually nitrates rising. I've gone through the initial 'cycle' without ever seeing a nitrite spike so many times I've lost count. But it's never not frustrating when it happens - even if I expect not to see one for whatever reason.

It's incredibly tough for me not to get impatient but it has always paid off in the end. Allows time for plants to grow in, the tank to mature and everything to look great before any livestock gets moved in.

 

[Tomc]

I really want to use fluval stratum. I have a question on this same topic. if I set up the tank and use RO water and just remineralize GH and add no Kh to the RO water, what will the PH settle at?