Testing kits

[plankton]

If you started with 4ppm ammonia and it's now 2ppm, you may well have nitrites already.

[Redpanda]

Morning Plankton.
Unfortunately not much, so Should I up ammonia a bit?

[Redpanda]

[mikeyw64]

I wouldn't worry too much about the nitirtes yet just keep the ammonia levels at 2ppm (if you have a planted setup ) or 4ppm.

Even when you see Nitrites & Nitrates starting up keep the ammonia topped up until you hit 3 days of ammonia =0 and nitrite = 0.

Your nitrates may go through the roof during this but thats not a concern and if you're lucky they will plummet atthe end of the cycle. If they dont then big water chnage before adding fish.


If you havent already I would also increase the temp to around 30-32c as the munchers prefer it warm (but remeber to drop before adding fiash!)

This is the log from when I cycled Sunnyside recently (unless otherwise mentioned all checks carried out between 08:00-10:00)

[plankton]

It's got a pink tinge, so there are nitrites there, just keep topping up to 2ppm when it goes to zero.

[Redpanda]

I wouldn't worry too much about the nitirtes yet just keep the ammonia levels at 2ppm (if you have a planted setup ) or 4ppm.

Even when you see Nitrites & Nitrates starting up keep the ammonia topped up until you hit 3 days of ammonia =0 and nitrite = 0.

Your nitrates may go through the roof during this but thats not a concern and if you're lucky they will plummet atthe end of the cycle. If they dont then big water chnage before adding fish.

If you havent already I would also increase the temp to around 30-32c as the munchers prefer it warm (but remeber to drop before adding fiash!)

This is the log from when I cycled Sunnyside recently (unless otherwise mentioned all checks carried out between 08:00-10:00)

Thanks for sharing !! This is great. May I ask what is stability and do I need it?

I will keep testing, ammonia still 2 at the moment.

Thank you

[plankton]

No you don't need Stability, the ammonia is sufficient.

[Redpanda]

Can I also ask, considering current situation, when the tank is fully cycled. Do I need to add fish immediately? Because I might not be able to buy it for a while if shops are shut will I spoil all the hard work by not adding fish? Thanks

[Gingerlove05]

You can keep dosing the ammonia to keep the filter bacteria ticking over until you get fish

[mikeyw64]

I used Seachem Stabilty for the first week just to help kickstart the bacteria (as I was advised on here some time back in a thread that seems to have gone following upgrades ;o) ).

Also use it when adding new stock as a precautionary measure.