Hi, Hallyx. Sorry I didn't see this updated post. It's been cycling for a little over two weeks, give or take a few days? I didn't seed my tank with any bacteria(like from someone elses' tank) except for something called nutrafin cycle that came with it? Is that bacteria or just a supplement?/no clue xD It came with my tank so I put it in. I put it in once or twice, but that's all. The water clouded for a few days and then went totally clear. It's clear right now and I took out the shrimp.
So as far as I know, I only used shrimp.
levels are:
ammonia: 2ppm :D yesterday it was 4ppm(day before it was 8ppm :/ really high) and the nitrate took a little while to go off the charts. this time as soon as the solution went in it went dark purple and then when i shook it, went off the charts. I removed the shrimp yesterday.
nitrite: right off the bat before I even shook it, off the charts.
Nitrate: low, about 5-10ppm.
Should I put some new shrimp back in to keep the cycle going until it's finished? I think the nitrite is just starting to work full blast.
Sounds like you're doing fine. You might have gotten a little carried away, but your tank is correcting just fine. Cycle is not the actual nitrifying bacteria, but it helps that bacteria to grow quickly.
Before you put that shrimp back in. Let the ammonia and nitrite come down to 0.0ppm. Then change the water to bring the nitrate <10ppm.
Then drop the shrimp in for a few days to get the ammonia up to ~2.0ppm. If the ammonia goes back down and leaves higher nitrates, your tank is cycled. Give it one last big water change to drop your nitrate <10ppm, and add your stock,
Keep a close eye on the parameters for the first month or so. Change your water 50% every week.
Would you do us the favor of writing up your experience? I'd like to add it to the "Cycle Log" thread.
haha, what do you mean by carried away? xD Allowing the ammonia to shoot up?
Thank you so much for the advice. I hope I can add Fred in soon.
The nitrate was closer to 5 than it was to 10, but since the nitrite is working, I bet it's going to get high.
I will watch the levels to make sure that everything is in check.
Sure! I will definitely write up my experience once my tank is cycled.
Also, would it be okay to not change the water for about a week? I'm going on a trip from the 15th-21st and don't want to hassle Fred's sitter too much :/ It's a five gallon. Once I get back, I would do a 100% change...
hmm...maybe I should get her to do a 25%?
Again, thank you so much. You all have made this cycling thing a lot less crazy :)
I mean "carried away" as in letting all your readings get really high. I did that my first cycle and my high nitrates stalled the cycle.
Your tank ought to be fully cycled by the 15th. If your ammonia and nitrite return to 0.0ppm a day or two after you bring it up >1.0ppm and your nitrate rises, you're done. You're running a cycled tank, now. You'll never do a 100% change again.
Before you leave, do a 50% water change with light vacuum. That's the first of your forever weekly 50% changes. Make sure the sitter knows not to feed Fred more than once a day. Every other day is fine. Don't do anything else.
The ammonia went down to 1ppm today and nitrite is really high, nitrates still haven't gone up(about 5ppm). I'm just happy that the ammonia has gone down a lot :)--I'm sure the high nitrite will break down into nitrates soon?
Ooh I forgot about that!(more food, more waste, more nitrate) Thanks for reminding me.
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