Cycling with Dr. Tim's Day 3.

[carnicomh]

Using one and only. LFS said to keep adding ammonia per the schedule, but nitrites are way high. Am I on the right track? Thanks for the help!

 

[Jekyl]

Any other products added besides ammonia?

 

[carnicomh]

Just one and only. I have a brain condition, sorry for all the edits.

 

[jda]

Do you even have fish? If so, nitrite is not toxic in saltwater. It is a sign that the bacteria needed to process no2 into no3 do not exist yet, so just be patient. The ammonia is toxic to fish, so I hope that you do not have too many, if any.

 

[carnicomh]

No fish. That's a vicious thing to do to them. Hold off on ammonia or dose? Thank you, guys!

 

[Jekyl]

No fish. That's a vicious thing to do to them. Hold off on ammonia or dose? Thank you, guys!

Test nitrate

 

[jda]

This is an oversimplification, but... the kind of bacteria that you need to turn ammonia into nitrite are different than the ones that you need to turn nitrite into nitrate. Eventually, you get bacteria that turn nitrate into nitrogen gas, but those exist in rocks and sand in places where there is low/no/limited oxygen. They grow in order.

Also, just because you can advance to the next part of the nitrogen cycle does not mean that the tank is ready to handle large portions of any part of the cycle. Having some nitrate means that you have some nh4=>no2 as well as some no2=>no3 bacteria, but it does not mean that you have enough to handle X load of fish. Having the bacteria is good since they can multiply better with even a small population there already.

There is nuance to this that you might know, so my apologies... but this works on the macro level.

 

[carnicomh]

Testing nitrite. That's a great writeup, thank you!

 

[carnicomh]

Nitrates

 

[jda]

Just add the ammonia and come back during the weekend and test again. I know that it is hard, but no need to do this every day.

Eventually, you will have a low nh4 and no2 reading even with the same dose of ammonia. You might even see some film algae starting to appear. This means that you tank can handle some fish slowly and smartly.

Just know that API often shows some ammonia even when there is none present. If no2 shows very low to zero and the API is still around 1.0 or less, then the ammonia is likely fine. Wait for the no2 to get down near nothing.

 

[carnicomh]

Awesome, thank you very much!!

 

[Jekyl]

Stop dosing ammonia, water change to bring down nitrate and add 1 or 2 fish. Don't over feed. Tank is ready.

 

[carnicomh]

Oh, my. I dosed ammonia after earlier post.

 

[jda]

You can dose ammonia still. That bacteria that you are making can die off with no fuel. When you get some fish, you can taper down for a few days beforehand.

 

[carnicomh]

Heard that, partner. Appreciate it!

 

[Jekyl]

You can dose ammonia still. That bacteria that you are making can die off with no fuel. When you get some fish, you can taper down for a few days beforehand.

There's no need to feed the bacteria in this manner. Once process is rolling the bacteria can't die of starvation. Definitely don't want to be adding ammonia while there's fish in a new system.

 

[jda]

I think that science would really like to study an organic organism that cannot die of starvation. Aerobic bacteria certainly die back with no fuel.

Simple google search gives you all that you need. They start to die after a day or two.

 

[pirate9182]

I think that science would really like to study an organic organism that cannot die of starvation. Aerobic bacteria certainly die back with no fuel.

Simple google search gives you all that you need. They start to die after a day or two.

I was always under the impression that they go dormant rather then die off, whi h is why they can live in bottles with no food source.

 

[Blopple]

Stop dosing the ammonia. You're just adding excess nutrients.

I believe the bacteria die-off thing has been overstated.

 

[Jekyl]

I think that science would really like to study an organic organism that cannot die of starvation. Aerobic bacteria certainly die back with no fuel.

Simple google search gives you all that you need. They start to die after a day or two.

They can survive and be born off aerosols in the natural environment alone.

Ammonia and bottles of bacteria just expedite the process

@brandon429 might have the data on it stashed away though