Wolfgang8810

i have been cycling my tank for almost a week now its a 2.5 gallon and this morning when i woke up the water went from crystal clear lastnight to pretty cloudy this morning i have been writing down my water chemistries and i use a liquid master test kit see below for parameters what could this cloudiness be?



Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate
12-Aug 1 0 0
13-Aug 1 0 0
14-Aug 0.5 0 0
15-Aug 0.25 0 5

could i be that I'm almost done cycling?

griffin

it seems kinda odd that you never had nitrites, but you're showing nitrates now. i'd give it a while before saying if you're cycled.

good luck!

Wolfgang8810

thanks. the water is cloudy should i do a water change?

capekate

The cloudy water is a normal process in the cyle, I wouldnt worry about it. As far as nitrates go, I always had nitrates first and then the nitrites would show up. Since you are just now starting to show nitrates, Im sure your nitrites are sure to follow soon. A normal cycle for a fishless tank, should average around 3-4 weeks to cycle. I wouldnt bother with a water change til your tank is cycled.
~ kate

Wolfgang8810

thanks kate shouild i keep adding bacteria ( i use cycle) about 1.5 mls

capekate

There are a lot of conflicting debates on the cycle as an aid in cycling a tank. Most say that it has the wrong type of bacteria for your tank, others say that it hasnt done much to speed up a cycle. I havent used it myself. If you would like to help your cycle along you can 'feed' your tank with some fish food to produce ammonia which in turn will produce the benificial bacteria you need. Other than the cycle what have you been using to 'cycle" your tank?

Wolfgang8810

ive been "feeding" it every other day very small amount maybe one big flake.

capekate

I see by your readings that the ammonia level is dropping off without a substantial increase in your nitrites or nitrates. It may be caused by not enough flakes that you are feeding the tank. I would be adding at least that much every 12 hours to insure you get a higher ammonia reading, whereas you will then start to get a higher reading in the others.

Wolfgang8810

i also have plants in there now heres a picture if it

Wolfgang8810

that was yesterday this is today.

capekate

I like your set up and love the boat, is that a vintage piece? very nice... love the colors in that. I also have the natural pea gravel in two of my tanks, they are nice.
I see the cloudy water your talking about. Its either two things, you have a bacterial bloom starting which is fine in a new tank or its dust from your gravel. Did you rinse your gravel under water before putting it in the tank? Thanks for the photos and be sure to add new photos when you get your fish!

Wolfgang8810

i definitely rinsed the gravel almost for 5 mins lol (no soap!) and the boat is actually vintage porcelain i got from my girlfriend i have a captain jack action figure lol but he was too big so hes chillin my my 10 gallon lol those barbs love the camera

capekate

Haha.. great Jack Sparrow! Yeh, I thought that was vintage.. way kewl! I have a vintage piece in my ten gal betta tank, its a pagoda. I just love the vintage aquarium decorations better than the new stuff any day! Well then, if you rinsed the gravel as well, then its got to be a start of a bacterial bloom, which means your coming along with your cycle, but its not over yet! hang in there and wait for a spike in your nitrate readings after you get some nitrite readings. Then watch for a drop in the nitrites that will eventually show up as 0, and with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and a reading of less than 20 for nitrates you will be ready for fish. Keep us posted on the progress and if you need help then, we can walk you through it!
~ kate

griffin

just out of curiosity, how deep is your substrate?

is the one flake of fish food all you're adding? or are you also adding ammonia drops (or anything else)?

Wolfgang8810

isd say its about 1 inch maybe less 1.5 lbs per gallon is what i did. and im using about .5 ml of food nothing else

armadillo

Love capt'n Jack!

Wolfgang8810

i like to think i was a pirate in my past life

armadillo

he he he. Well you've certainly got the blue lobsters for it!

Talk about not making sense... : Aaaarghaaargh, am tired.