Cycling parameters

[Misha]

Hey all,

I’m cycling for 1,5 week and this are my parameters:

Ammonia 0 (since Ive got my ammonia alert (6 days)
Nitrite 0 (got it today)
Nitrate 2.5 (for 6 days already)

Im dosing Colombo Bacto start.

Why is my nitrate not rising? Is this ok or is the ammonia spike never been there?

 

[Matt Carden]

What are you using to introduce ammonia?

 

[Misha]

What are you using to introduce ammonia?

A few pellets every 2/3 days

 

[Matt Carden]

Sounds like your on the right track. Personally I didn't add fish for 3 months. I'm not telling you to wait that long. I'm just reinforcing "Go slow"

 

[Misha]

Sounds like your on the right track. Personally I didn't add fish for 3 months. I'm not telling you to wait that long. I'm just reinforcing "Go slow"

I planned to wait around 1 month. Won’t add fish before. But isn’t it a bit early for the nitrite cycle to be done already? And that the nitrate isn’t going up?

 

[Matt Carden]

I would give it a week or two without testing. Cycle test results can be confusing.

 

[Misha]

I would give it a week or two without testing. Cycle test results can be confusing.

It is lol, will it be a good idea to place a shrimp in the tank for ammonia?

 

[Matt Carden]

That works. I went to Ace Hardware and got Ammonia https://www.acehardware.com/departm...-and-disinfectants/all-purpose-cleaners/10184
And use this calculator
http://spec-tanks.com/ammonia-calculator-aquariums/
To calculate your dose to bring your ammonia to 1ppm and maintain 1 ppm. Make sure to test your ammonia daily to dose more or stop dosing to maintain 1ppm.

 

[Matt Carden]

The reason for the pure ammonia is that it will promote Autotrophic bacteria growth only. The Shrimp or pellets will promote heterotrophic as well as autotrophic bacteria. The problem is that the Heterotrophic will outcompete the Autotrophic. At your stage of your cycle, you need the Autotrophic bacteria to be well established before the Heterotrophic start growing.
This could be the reason for your confusing test results.

 

[Misha]

That works. I went to Ace Hardware and got Ammonia https://www.acehardware.com/departm...-and-disinfectants/all-purpose-cleaners/10184
And use this calculator
http://spec-tanks.com/ammonia-calculator-aquariums/
To calculate your dose to bring your ammonia to 1ppm and maintain 1 ppm. Make sure to test your ammonia daily to dose more or stop dosing to maintain 1ppm.

I think I might have 1 or 2 bottles of pure ammonia in the basement

 

[Misha]

I have found 2 bottles of the same brand on the label it didn’t say the ingredients neither the %. I have shaked the bottle and it didn’t foam so there is no soap in it. Can I use this? If yes how much?