Is my cycle going ok ?

Gee

Gee

marineaholic
Dec 21, 2003
106
0
16
50
Blainville, Quebec
24.203.72.60
Here i am again, i just want to be sure evrything is going fine,

i just think its too long ?

The two coktail shrimps are completely gone now.

Here is the complete, from the begining, water test result

23 decembre 2003 : debut du cycle, 2 crevettes.
test eau :
- ph 7.6
- sg 1.023
- amoniaque 0.6
- nitrite 0
- nitrate 0
- temp 82 (light on)


25 decembre 2003:
test d'eau :
- ph 7.6
- sg 1.023 - 1.024
- amoniaque 1.2 - 2.4
- nitrite 0.1
- nitrate 5
- temp 81 (light on)
rem : odeur ..........


30 decembre 2003 :
test d'eau :
- ph 7.6
- sg 1.024
- amoniaque off
- nitrite 0.1
- nitrate 5
- temp 82 (light on)


3 janvier 2003 :
test d'eau :
- ph 7.6
- sg 1.025
- amoniaque way off
- nitrite 0.1
- nitrate 5
- temp 82 (light on)


8 janvier 2003 :
test d'eau :
- ph 7.6
- sg 1.025
- amoniaque way off
- nitrite 0.2
- nitrate 5-10
- temp 82 (light on)


16 janvier 2003 :
test d'eau :
- ph 7.6
- sg 1.025
- amoniaque still way off
- nitrite 0.1
- nitrate 5
- temp 80 (light off)
 
<in worst fake French accent>

Zee cycle, she ees doing jus' fine :p

---------------------------------------

When the "ammoniaque" comes back down out of the stratosphere, that will signal the end of the first stage :D

By the time the ammonia readings come down, the nitrite should be off the scale. When that starts to come down, your cycle will be nearing completion.

Sometimes the cycle runs 6+ weeks, so I don't think you're "behind schedule" at all.
:cool:
 
ALARM PH 7.6???? Are you sure? 7.6 is too low it should be around 8.2 to 8.5. I am not educated on the Ph side of things but I do test PH in my tanks because it is important , mine has always been very close to 8.4 . So we need someone to talk about PH here.
 
Hey Kurt, good observation. I wasn't even looking at pH.

I'm cycling in a DSB right now, and my pH is bouncing along at about 7.7 also. I think the bio-chemistry associated with deliberate contamination (the whole rotting shrimp thing) pulls the pH down.

"Old tank syndrome" is partly caused by a buildup of nitrogenous wastes and one of the symptoms is falling pH.

But still, will one of the more experienced/knowledgeable members please comment?
 
I'm no expert, but it seems like Gee started with a pH of 7.6. I find that strange unless he was using tap water. It's also strange that the NH3 is consistantly off the scale, yet the NO2 is dropping.

Gee, you may want to do some partial water changes using R/O water as your base with Instant Ocean. Failing that you may need a dKH buffer to help raise the pH.

Chris
 
Well i was told here that tap water was not "that" bad to cycle the tank, all my top off have been done with ro/di water,

Iwas told that my ph was acceptable for fowlr.

And the only thing i find strange is that i am 3 weeks into the cycle and i didnt have hitrite or nitrate spikes yet, only amonia is sky high ! how long does it takes for the other bacteria to attack the amonia ?

Thanks
 
Gee:
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, It's fish tank maintainence day here!

I checked my records on my tank cycle and it took 1 month exactly to cycle the tank. I started with tap water as well, but it's naturally at a pH of 8.4 here. The R/O and di water have a very low pH, so aren't building it up. I still think you should do about 20% water changes with mixed salt - R/O to pick it up.

My cycle ran like this:
Set up on Dec 9th

Dec 13:
pH 8.4, NO2: Trace, AM: 6.10, SPG: 1.024

Dec 20:
pH 8.4, NO2: 110+, NO3: 5.00, AM: 0.3, SPG: 1.026

Dec 26:
pH: 8.4, NO2: 110+, NO3: 2.00, AM: 0.1, SPG: 1.024

Jan 2:
pH: 8.4, NO2: 0.0, NO3: 10, AM: 0.1, SPG: 1.022

Jan 10: pH: 8.3, NO2: 0.0, NO3: 10, AM: 0, SPG: 1.024

Have you added any LR? I ask this as it may be the source of the AM spike from dye off and stalling the cycle a bit.

Chris
 
No i dont have live rock yet, but i have about 20 pounds of base rock and 50 pounds of play sand.

I cycled the tank with 2 cocktail shrimp, maybe thats the cause of high amonia, two shrimps for a 20 gallon was "alot" i think ?

Thank you for your help, i think i am just in a hurry to see the end of the cycle, i tought i wasnt in a rush but this thing is like a drug !!!!

p.s. i was told to not do water change while cycling, just top off, is that correct ?
 
Gee:
That's probably the reason, as you suggested. Be patient, just don't add LR till you AM and NO2 is at 0 values, otherwise you'll fry any critters on the rock.

The water changes were recommended to me by OrionGirl, who I trust. You will need to raise your pH eventually, so now is the time to do it before you add any inhabitants. Do the water changes weekly. It's better than adding additives later and you'll have you tank stocked before no time.

Correct me if I'm wrong on this (Ben, OrionGirl, Morganda, etc...)

Chris
 
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