Hi everyone. I've always waltzed through fishless cycles with no issue at all, but the 2 tanks I'm currently cycling with the HMF's have both stalled. The pH has remained stable at 7.2 and last weekend I have both of them a squeeze of a sponge filter I run in another tank. What else would cause it to stall? Ammonia or nitrites are not dropping at this point. It's 5 weeks tomorrow.
One of the uplifts isn't working very well neither. I need to have a good look at it over the weekend. I suspect the non return valve is a bit rubbish as it makes a humming noise on that side.
I'm contemplating getting rid of the HMF's and swapping them for Fluval U2's already. I'm concerned they're not up to it (but only because of how long the cycle is taking)!
Stalled fishless cycle.
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BigBen
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black ghost
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If you have nitrites the ammonia must have dropped some…
What temperature is it at?
What’s the KH?
I’d check your test kits also.
What temperature is it at?
What’s the KH?
I’d check your test kits also.
I don't keep fish, I keep water. Water keeps fish.
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BigBen
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The ammonia did drop, and was dropping to 0.25ppm. just sticking 2ppm now, and one of the tanks is randomly at 4ppm. Going to chuck a couple root tabs in a tank to see what happens. I've crossed checked the test kit with another and they match.black ghost wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 17:43 pm If you have nitrites the ammonia must have dropped some…
What temperature is it at?
What’s the KH?
I’d check your test kits also.
Kh is 1 from the tap
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black ghost
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It might have run out of carbonates?
I don't keep fish, I keep water. Water keeps fish.
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BigBen
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Possibly. I thought the pH would have dropped so I ignored that idea. I'll put a pinch of bicarb in.
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VikingMummy2015
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Yeah….that’s happened to me before with my kH! Potassium bicarb does the job nicely and then generally it maintains itself once the fish are in.
240L Fluval Roma with Oase 600 Biomaster: 1 German red bristlenose, 4 male cherry barbs, 6 standard rummynose, 3 golden rummynose tetra, 9 emperor tetra, 14 cardinal tetra, 2 hengeli rasbora, 3 nerite snails, 1 adult Sulawesi snail and multiple juveniles continually appearing.
Parameters: gH2, kH1, pH7.4 (tap).
Fish fiend since October 2017.
Parameters: gH2, kH1, pH7.4 (tap).
Fish fiend since October 2017.
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BigBen
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Bicarb is in. Hopefully I'll get some results soon, my local has sparkling gourami's in at the moment 
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BigBen
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The KH is coming out of the tap at less than one 
. Added a bit more bicarb this morning as the pinch I have it had no affect. Going to take a bit of water to the shop for them to test as well to see if it matches my test kit. Mine is still in date so should be fine.
. Added a bit more bicarb this morning as the pinch I have it had no affect. Going to take a bit of water to the shop for them to test as well to see if it matches my test kit. Mine is still in date so should be fine.Instagram - @the.cornish.fishkeeper
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plankton
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You have dissolved the bicarb before adding it to the tank....? 
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
...get someone else to do it!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
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BigBen
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Got a reading of 2 today, so I've added a little more. I think the ammonia has dropped ever so slightly in one of them.
Would a small bag of coral sand add carbonates?
Would a small bag of coral sand add carbonates?
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