still cycling?

Discussion in 'DrTim's Aquatics' started by turbo2, Sep 29, 2014.

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  1. turbo2

    turbo2 Plankton

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    I'm on Day 6 using Dr. Tims one and only along with the ammonia. I'm trying to figure out if I'm still cycling or not. I'm using caribsea live sand and dry rock. I added more ammonia 2 days ago and I'm still getting 0 ammonia Nitrites are barely registering. I'm also reading some Nitrates. Am I done? Should I add more ammonia? Or just wait?



    Here's my test results from yesterday, today was about the same:

    Ammonia
    [​IMG]

    Nitrite Top and Side
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    If you see nitrites it is still cycling. What test kit are you using? I would not add ammonia but would ghost feed a little everyday until you see 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites.
     
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  4. turbo2

    turbo2 Plankton

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    Thanks for replying, I'm using the Salifert tests. I ended up adding more ammonia last night. I don't have any food yet, but wouldn't that be doing the same thing?
     
  5. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Theoretically it would do the same thing. I'd rather add food because you can dose am amount that you think you will be using to feed fish. I wouldn't know how much ammonia that food translates to. Either way, it should be fine. It will take several weeks to finish the cycle.
     
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  6. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    it might not be quite as long given that you're using the Dr. Tim's product.
     
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  7. DrTim

    DrTim 3reef Sponsor

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    How you read through fishless cycling instructions on our website?
    In any case, you did the right thing by adding more ammonia. Since you had zero ammonia and a trace of nitrite it was time to add more ammonia. You also have to realize a few things:
    I assume you added 1 drop of ammonia per gallon and you've done it at least twice (?) that means you have added a total of 4 mg/L ammonia-nitrogen. Which completely converted to nitrite will equal 4 mg/L nitrite-nitrogen and then 4 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen. But the Salifert kit measures in units of the nitrite ion which is almost 4x higher than the nitrite-nitrogen scale. What this means is that if 100% of the ammonia you added were converted to nitrite ion and none of the nitrite ion were converted to nitrate your test kits would read almost 16 mg/L nitrite. But it only reads around 0.25-0.50 (you look down through the tube with the salifert kits not through the side). So basically almost 100% of the nitrite has been converted.

    If you measure again on Wednesday and the reading are the same you tank is basically cycled.
     
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  9. turbo2

    turbo2 Plankton

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    Thanks for taking the time to reply Dr. Tim. I have read the instructions at least a dozen times by now haha. Perhaps a chart would make it easier to follow for people like me. This was my 3rd time adding ammonia. Day 3 my nitrite and ammonia readings were also below .5, so I had added more.

    The salifert nitrite kit said to look through the side for higher sensitivity but divide the results by 10. It did qualify that with 'after cycling you'll need higher sensitivity' so perhaps I should just ignore that. Glad to hear my cycle might almost be complete. I'll check the results again this afternoon and report back!
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2014
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  10. turbo2

    turbo2 Plankton

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    Here are my nitrite readings today bother under a normal house lamp, and daylight next to a window. Looks darker than before. Ammonia is still registering as 0.

    My plan now, based on my understanding of the directions is as follows is to start the following after 24 hours:

    1) Test ammonia and nitrite, if the Nitrite is less than .5 I'll dose ammonia once again, and continue to step 2.
    2) Test ammonia and nitrite. If Nitrite is less than .5 and Ammonia remains at 0 I'm done cycling, if its above .5, wait 24 hours then return to step 1.

    Is this correct?

    under lamp:

    [​IMG]
    in direct daylight:
    [​IMG]
     
  11. bond300

    bond300 Plankton

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    Where are the fish?
     
  12. bond300

    bond300 Plankton

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    I added two clowns tank good to go in a week. Then added 5 lbs of live rock every week