Here I go again!

[Blaise]

Oooooooooh 

[TropicalFishForums]

[Blaise]

So, about this cycling lark....😂


I'm on day 13, using food, as I'm asthmatic and can't go anywhere near ammonia.  However, I can't seem to encourage the ammonia reading past 0.5


The starting stats were:
Am 0
Ni 0
Na 10


Today they are:
Am 0.5
Ni 0.5
Na 40


The numbers have risen steadily but the ammonia reading has stayed the same for the past 4 days. The ph has been 7.5 throughout.


So, how am I doing please?

[Gingerlove05]

Not bad but you might want to add more food to increase the ammonia amount, it does take a few days for the food to break down and start releasing ammonia which can make these cycles a bit more difficult. I think you can use frozen prawns (dont quote me on that) instead as they will release more ammonia over time than food if that makes sense.
It is positive that you have a nitrite reading however
It may mean you have to stock slowly after finishing your cycle instead of being able to fully stock.


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[Newbie fishkeeper]

I have asthma and ammonia didn't affect me, just be sure not to sniff it. 

[Gingerlove05]

Depends how bad/the type of asthma. My nan wasn't allowed to go into the pyramids in egypt because of her asthma but she did have an industrial induced form of asthma. Good old working conditions!


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[plankton]

I would let the ammonia and nitrite fall to zero, do a big water change (making sure to get rid of any rotting food) and then stock slowly, 6 fish at a time every 2-3 weeks.
There will be a colony of munchers, but they won't be able to manage much of a bioload.

[Blaise]

Thanks everyone.

[Blaise]

Ammonia and nitrite heading downwards - whoop whoop 

[Gingerlove05]

And we're off! Lol


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[Blaise]

Hmm... advice needed please, as cycle seems to have stalled a bit.  All seemed to be going well from day 13, when ammonia and nitrItes reduced to 0.5, and nitrAtes went up to 40.  However, since then....


Day 14: A - 0.25, NI - 0.3, NA - 40
Day 15: A - 0.25, NI - 0.5, NA - 30
Day 16: A - 0.25, NI - 0.25, NA - 20
Today:   A - 0.5, NI - 0.5, NA - 30.


Now, I've read in some places that this is a good time to do a water change, but I don't want to mess anything up having been so patient...


Your thoughts please.

[plankton]

What's happened with the ph?
I wonder if the carbonates have been used up?

[Blaise]

ph remains the same at 7.5 and I have no idea what carbonates are....  Is that the carbon in the filter? 

[Gingerlove05]

No thats carbon, its normally used for removing meds and tannins and only lasts a few weeks.
Carbonates are carbonate ions, these are what keep your ph stable at 4dKH and above


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[Blaise]

Thanks.


So, any thoughts on if I need to do anything, or do I just persevere?

[Gingerlove05]

Whats your temp at? Just wondering if you have it at 22C like you intended, lower temps do tend to be slower to cycle, it might be worth raising the temp gradually if it is to around 28C this should help speed the cycle up. Just make sure it is gradual so as to not shock the munchers.
Otherwise i wonder if its just more of the residual food degrading and increasing the levels and the bacteria are still catching up.


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