Red1313

I was reading through the fishless cycling articles and I'm confused by the following:

...Once you have nitrite readings you should decrease the amount of ammonia you're feeding the tank by half...

Wouldn't decreasing the amount of ammonia kill off part of the ammonia converting colonies that you've established? I don't understand why you'd want to do that?

Anyone explain this?

Here's the one I read it in cycling option #3.

Dozey

As I understand it the reasoning behind this theory is that as we do use ammonia to cycle our tanks we also use ammonia to clean our environments of bacteria. Although ammonia has a beneficial use to promote the growth of bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrites it has a detrimental effect on the bacteria that coverts nitrites to nitrates. By cutting back the ammonia we provide food for the original bacteria while not killing off the bacteria that deals with the nitrites.

DISCLAIMER: I can not provide evidence that my understanding is correct. It is simply my understanding of the cycling process.

Lucy

Dozey, that's how I understand it also. No proof that's why, it just makes sense.

Red1313

Hmmm, ok I guess that makes sense.... Maybe . I'm not really good at math so what would the PPM be if you're adding 5 drops of ammonia/10 gals of water?

Shawnie

such a great way of explaining it dozey!!!

the ppm's are what the reading is on your test kit when testing it ....add the 5 drops and see where the ppms are with the 5 drops according to your test kit

prairielilly

...that depends on the concentration of the ammonia you're adding...and sorry it involves more than a bit of math (more can be provided if you like)

Red1313

Prairielilly:We'll say 100% ammonia I curious. I've never done a fishless cycle.

Also anyone remember what the ppm SOF recommended to sterilize a tank was?

NOTE: just did a google search... that said 1 drop/gal = (approx) 1ppm. therefore would 5 drops/ten gal just be slightly over .5ppm? I can't see how that would interfere with bacterial growth...

prairielilly

How to determine the ppm you're adding:

Ammonia instructions for a fishless cycle (post #16, you'll have to figure out how many mL your drops amount to. Just modify the concentration part and sub in your own numbers elsewhere, it's not too bad)

SOF's recommendation for sterilization:

Major tank disaster - advice please?? (post #2)

Red1313

Awesome thanks Pairielilly!

prairielilly

anytime