BCastle

I have a question that I realize will be answered on its own it the coming days, but I ask because I want to understand some things in a little more detail.
My 75g tank has been set up for 5 days, and today is the first water test I've done.

My readings are:
ammonia: 1.0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
pH: 7.8

I added about 8 pounds of cured LR on day 3, and about 15-16 more today. Also 20 pounds LS today.

Prior to addition of LR, I had used Biozyme on the recommendation of the LFS.

I understand the cycle, but do you see NH3 go to zero and THEN see Nitrite start upward, or does Nitrate start to appear before Ammonia is gone? I get the impression it's the latter, but I am wondering if my readings mean Ammonia is most likely still on the way up or if it could potentially be falling.

If it were falling, would Nitrite appear before Ammonia fell to 1.0? If not, how low should Ammonia get before Nitrite comes to visit?

au01st

You know I've never actually thought about that. FWIW, as long as you have any ammonia or nitrite reading, you shouldn't add anything live. I guess just keep testing and we'll see.

cerianthus

On tank w/o LR, should see NO2 before NH3 is zero. But with FOWLR, not necessarily, sometimes may not even see both, wonders of LR.
Few more testing for next week or so should reveal the the situation you are at.

BCastle

That's interesting. So, if FOWLR doesn't always follow the usual sequence, when do you consider it done? When NH3 and NO2 are zero and nitrates are present but low, no matter what happened before?

BCastle

Today is confusing... two days ago ammonia was lower than before (down for the first time from 1.0 to .50 and the first nitrite reading appeared (.50). Today, two days later, Ammonia is still at .50, nitrite at 1.0, BUT I am already reading nitrate at 5.0.

Is something weird here?

cerianthus

No, I think it is going as it should. No tanks are alike. I would just leave it alone and just test every few days so you dont go crazy, lol!
How well/fast tank cycles, all depends on quality/amt of LR!

As far as previous question, If rocks has many decaying/dieing organisms, testing may register some NH3 and/or NO2 even down the load. It all depends on when and how much do they decay/deteriorate to cause NH3 surge!.

In your case since both NH3 and NO2 are registering, would wait until both goes down to zero and wait few days to ensure they did creep up.. Just becareful when adding fish once cycled so you dont over load the system..

Shawnie

NH3 ammonia NO2 nitrite ? ? ?

BCastle

NO2 Nitrite, NH3/NH4 Ammonia.

Shawnie

TY!!!!!

BCastle

Ok, I'm a noob... can you 'splain?

And I'm starting to think this calls for a retest in case something went afoul.

Shawnie

thank you

BCastle

Got it. I thought maybe I had serious issues and you were paging some water expert named Ty to the thread to help...

Shawnie

nopers LOL I was thanking the explination of NH3 and NO2 in language that everyone knows ..im a noob also

BCastle

Today is day 15. Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10.0 . Partial water change coming up this weekend.
So, what is the number I want to see afterwards on Nitrate? As low as possible, I know, but what is considered acceptable numbers for livestock?
I don't plan to stock until at LEAST a week down the road no matter what, and only one fish then... more than a week if that's the concensus.

Also, I understand I have diatom algae bloom coming up... is that the time to add the CUC no matter what the fish stock situation is?

Thanks!

agabr123

sounds like you've gotten through the cycle! under 20ppm is a good guideline, personally i prefer it keep it closer to 10ppm or lower.

honestly, i wouldn't worry about a clean up crew for diatoms, they're generally considered "new tank" algae and i find it's easiest to just let them be. they're annoying, but completely harmless and will go away with time