Nitrate Issue with Fishless Cycle?

N

notfastenuf

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Feb 15, 2009
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55g, original top fin dual charcoal filter and Aqua Clear 70, two smaller plants and it's been setup for about two weeks. Been dosing ammonia as well. Finally got the API Freshwater Master test kit today. The temp has been cranked to 82 and algae is starting to form.

pH = 8
NH3 = 6ppm
No2 = 1ppm
No3 = 0ppm

I did a 10% change a few days ago and now I suppose I need some guidance as to what to do. I didn't have any media to start this and I'm sure the plants are consuming the nitrates... that's the only thing I can think of.

:help:
 
You technically shouldn't be changing water unless you overdose heavily on ammonia. Removing ammonia only increases the need for dosing sooner. Shoot for 5 ppm max. There's a sort of gray area between how much helps move the cycle along and how much can actually hurt the bacteria. When in doubt, dose less. Bacteria will grow whenever there is an excess of food, so there's no difference between 2 ppm and 5 ppm in terms of colony growth.

Plants won't consume nitrate when they can use ammonia and nitrite much easier. My guess is that you don't have the nitrite converting bacteria yet, and given your time frame you shouldn't. Cycling with this method should take you 6-8 weeks. Let the cycle progress and be patient. You can always try to add some bacteria via established media.
 
jpappy789 said:
You technically shouldn't be changing water unless you overdose heavily on ammonia. Removing ammonia only increases the need for dosing sooner. Shoot for 5 ppm max. There's a sort of gray area between how much helps move the cycle along and how much can actually hurt the bacteria. When in doubt, dose less. Bacteria will grow whenever there is an excess of food, so there's no difference between 2 ppm and 5 ppm in terms of colony growth.

Plants won't consume nitrate when they can use ammonia and nitrite much easier. My guess is that you don't have the nitrite converting bacteria yet, and given your time frame you shouldn't. Cycling with this method should take you 6-8 weeks. Let the cycle progress and be patient. You can always try to add some bacteria via established media.
Click to expand...

Cool. Understood. I have no problems being patient with this, just want to make sure something is happening. The wife keeps wondering when the fish are gonna show up.
 
jpappy786 has it pegged. My experience was that nitrites would get somewhere between 5-10 ppm before nitrates began to show. The last tank I cycled took about 35 days.
 
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