Cycling with Dr Tims one and only

Kial · Mar 5, 2022

Just sits around here not budging.

When I added the bacteria, it was cloudy which in Dr Tim's video says its a good thing. Also my wave makers have a white film on them from it.

Kial · Mar 5, 2022

Forscythe · Mar 5, 2022

Kial said:
Just sits around here not budging.

When I added the bacteria, it was cloudy which in Dr Tim's video says its a good thing. Also my wave makers have a white film on them from it.

Hopefully time will be the answer.
I made the assumption that using Dr Tim's would make the process really fast.
When I poured mine in, it didn't have a cloud, weird.

Kial · Mar 5, 2022

Forscythe said:
Hopefully time will be the answer.
I made the assumption that using Dr Tim's would make the process really fast.
When I poured mine in, it didn't have a cloud, weird.

Just watched a video of someone using it on YouTube. His ammonia didn't really change until around day 7-8. Then by day 13 the tank was fully cycled.

Suppose I was just expecting to see some results quicker as seen on some videos stating the bacteria gets to work on ammonia straight away in some cases.

Forscythe · Mar 5, 2022

Kial said:
Just watched a video of someone using it on YouTube. His ammonia didn't really change until around day 7-8. Then by day 13 the tank was fully cycled.

Suppose I was just expecting to see some results quicker as seen on some videos stating the bacteria gets to work on ammonia straight away in some cases.

Oh ok. Good to know. I'm just excited it feels like forever lol

Kial · Mar 8, 2022

Little update on my cycle....

Ammonia seems to be staying at 1.2 still, however my Nitrite shot up and is mega pink (red sea colour card only goes up to 1)

hoping to see ammonia actually start dropping soon.

Forscythe · Mar 8, 2022

Kial said:
Little update on my cycle....

Ammonia seems to be staying at 1.2 still, however my Nitrite shot up and is mega pink (red sea colour card only goes up to 1)

hoping to see ammonia actually start dropping soon.

Sounds like both of our cycles are around the same point. I'm sure everything will level out within the next week.
Tank started on 3/3, my current levels as of 3/7 are:
Ammonia - 1.5
Nitrate - 0.5
Nitrate - 10

Kial · Mar 10, 2022

Ammonia down to 0.2 today, nitrites sky high still.

Should I be bumping that ammonia back up now or wait for nitrite to fall?

Forscythe · Mar 10, 2022

Kial said:
Ammonia down to 0.2 today, nitrites sky high still.

Should I be bumping that ammonia back up now or wait for nitrite to fall?

Shouldn't have to bump ammonia back up. Once ammonia and Nitrite hit zero, the cycle is complete

Kial · Mar 10, 2022

Forscythe said:
Shouldn't have to bump ammonia back up. Once ammonia and Nitrite hit zero, the cycle is complete

Just remember seeing somewhere that it needs to be clear within 24 hours to be fully cycled

Forscythe · Mar 10, 2022

Kial said:
Just remember seeing somewhere that it needs to be clear within 24 hours to be fully cycled

I'm not sure to be honest. I haven't heard that before. I'll have to research a little bit

Kial · Mar 11, 2022

So ammonia is still showing 0.2 (maybe 0.4 but who knows haha)

Nitrite sky high and my nitrate is probably higher! That tells me nitrite is coming down but is currently higher than my test kit shows (1)

I'm going to do a water change to try lower these to testable levels

Kial · Mar 18, 2022

Tank has finally cycled! Think it was around 4 weeks to complete with nitrites also now at zero.

Bit longer than Dr Tim's states

Forscythe · Mar 18, 2022

Kial said:
Tank has finally cycled! Think it was around 4 weeks to complete with nitrites also now at zero.

Bit longer than Dr Tim's states

Sweet, time to stock it up!

1ocean · Mar 18, 2022

Great... I do not know anyone who had any luck with that product..but I guess some people do...that is why there are so many choices of stuff to use...

Kial · Mar 18, 2022

Forscythe said:
Sweet, time to stock it up!

Getting some clowns tomorrow. Usually go CUC first but as I'm keeping lights off for a while this time, be very minimal things for them to eat straight away

Kial · Mar 18, 2022

1ocean said:
Great... I do not know anyone who had any luck with that product..but I guess some people do...that is why there are so many choices of stuff to use...

Yeah I do think i wasted some money on it and wasn't necessarily needed. Pretty sure my last tank cycled in near enough the same time without

1ocean · Mar 19, 2022

Kial said:
Yeah I do think i wasted some money on it and wasn't necessarily needed. Pretty sure my last tank cycled in near enough the same time without

I guess you did waste $$...but for some people I guess it works..???? I like the Brightwell products so far great luck with them in the 300...I did the Brightwell Microbacter Start XLM and quick cycle to get cycle, (cycled in 6 days) then moved on and doing this second stage Brightwell Microbacter Clean and Brightwell Bio Fuel while keeping tank lights off for two months..Now I am still doing the Microbacter clean with the Bio Fuel but have my radions on @30% from 10-7 and began moving my coral into the 300. Once I hit the 4 month mark, I will switch to Brightwell Microbacter 7 maintenance. Their website shows it all.. I am always reading and trying to learn all I can from wherever and everyone.. I had luck with Brightwell but doesn't mean others have not just as you did not with Dr Tims....Have a super Saturday..