kguske2 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 So my fiancé tells me when I walk in the door that she got something for the tank because she's tired of it having no fish... We now have fish! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Day 5 of cycle. Tests are as follows Ammonia: 1.5ppm Nitrite: 1ppm Today is the first day the nitrite test showed a reading. Ammonia has been at 1.5ppm since day 1. Link to comment
Real Reefer Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Nice setup! Looks like the cycle is comin along nicely.Nitrite phase normaly takes the longest but they will disappear suddenly overnight.cant wait to see more updates! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Cycling day 7 and I don't know if I have a problem or not. So i grabbed an API test kit just to be able to check against multiple sources. The API has my Ammonia at 8ppm, much higher than the 1.5 I was reading on the Salifert test kit. So my question is this. Is there a point where ammonia dosing is too high? And if so, is 8ppm too high?? Or will this just take longer to process and begin to lower? Thanks! Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Sorry, I know nothing about dosing ammonia or dosing period. I'm sure someone will come along. Link to comment
Roshan8768 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I would think that its probably more than you need, but it could be that your test went bad. In any case I don't think you need to do anything, it should come down as it's converted to nitrite. It'll just take longer than with a lower concentration. On a positive note, you should have some pretty good levels of bacteria built up if they can process 8ppm Ammonia!!! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 17, 2013 Author Share Posted August 17, 2013 Day 9 of the cycle! Results now based on API test kit. Ammonia: 8ppm Nitrite: 5ppm PH: 8.0 Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Day 11- Ammonia: 8ppm Nitrite: 5 ppm PH: 8.0 Man does this get boring or what! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 22, 2013 Author Share Posted August 22, 2013 Day 14: Ammonia: 8ppm Nitrite: 5 ppm PH: 8.0 Definitely think putting so much ammonia in to begin with has slowed down this cycle. I would think by now I should've seen some drop! Link to comment
mejamis Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I think you are just fine. Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 Day 16 of the cycle! Ammonia: somewhere inbetween 4 and 8ppm Nitrite: 5 ppm. Turns purple as soon as the test solution hits the water. PH: 8.0 First drop in ammonia! Who knew a test tube could be so exciting! Link to comment
Apexdv Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Day 16 of the cycle! Ammonia: somewhere inbetween 4 and 8ppm Nitrite: 5 ppm. Turns purple as soon as the test solution hits the water. PH: 8.0 First drop in ammonia! Who knew a test tube could be so exciting! Totally understand. The day I saw that first ammonia drop I let out a big "WooHoo!" and from my experience it drops slowly then rapidly then plateaus and you go all *sigh* then suddenly it's gone and the diatoms move in. It may just be diatoms but to me it was *life* in the tank . Hang in there. The cycle period is the perfect time to become accustomed to properly taking water parameters ... even those silly API colour charts become somewhat easier. Following along! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 Day 18 of the cycling tank of mine! Ammonia: inbetween 1 and 2ppm. Tomorrow may be time to "spike the punch" and add a bit of ammonia. Nitrite: 5 ppm. Turns purple as soon as the test solution hits the water. PH: 8.0 Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 Picked up a BRS RO/DI today since it was on sale! No more having to buy distilled water from the grocery store! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 Day 20 of this ol' cycle! So I added ammonia yesterday to bring up the reading to 2ppm. Yesterday it was .25ppm. As of today my results are as follows: Ammonia: 1ppm Nitrite: 5ppm. Again the solution turns immediately purple Nitrate: between 5-10ppm. First time I've measured nitrate! PH: 8.0 Link to comment
kguske2 Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Day 22 here we go. I added ammonia to 3 ppm yesterday Ammonia: 2ppm Nitrite: 5.0 Nitrate: 8ppm PH:8.0 Link to comment
kguske2 Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Day 24 and counting. Kinda feel like I'm getting near the end! Or hoping anyway! Ammonia: .25 ppm. I dosed it back to 2ppm after testing Nitrite: 5ppm. It is starting to take longer to change purple so I think it's dropping. Nitrate: looks like 80ppm PH: 8.0 Ammonia seems to be processed faster now, taking about 48 hours to go from 2ppm to 0ppm Link to comment
Roshan8768 Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Man this is a long wait for you . Doing it right... looks like it's getting there Link to comment
kguske2 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Day 27..... Ammonia:1ppm...I had spiked it to 2ppm the day before Nitrite:5ppm...still taking longer to turn purple Nitrate: 160...turns dark red almost instantly after shaking the tube PH:7.8 Go away nitrite!!!! Link to comment
kguske2 Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 Day 33. Just trudging along Ammonia: .25 ppm Nitrite: still shows 5ppm Nitrate: 160ppm PH: 7.8 Just been adding ammonia to raise it to around 2-3 ppm then letting it drop back to .25 and then adding more. I seem to be adding ammonia every other day. Hope this is the normal course of action. Definitely a long process and waiting time!! Link to comment
wow.such.chris Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 I feel your pain. Started a 20 high with reef cleaners rock and 2 lbs of LR on August 1st and Im pretty much where youre at now. I've heard 8-10 week cycle is the minimum with dry rock. Link to comment
kguske2 Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 I feel your pain. Started a 20 high with reef cleaners rock and 2 lbs of LR on August 1st and Im pretty much where youre at now. I've heard 8-10 week cycle is the minimum with dry rock. Yea I'm getting tempted to add a little bit of live rock to potentially jump start it but I don't know if that would be beneficial at this point Link to comment
wow.such.chris Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Do it, if not to help the cycle, for the hitchhikers and coraline help. Link to comment
kguske2 Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Day 37. Wish I had something to report. All parameters are the same with the exception of falling and rising ammonia. Bleh Link to comment
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