Question about cycling with Dr. Tim's One and Only.

[Brew12]

This morning:

Ammonia: 2ppm!

I made new topoff water so hopefully things will speed up now.

Fantastic! Hopefully things will be looking great when you get back. Enjoy your weekend!

 

[glb]

Just got back from NYC.

Ammonia: 2ppm
Nitrates: 20ppm!

Now we're moving. I wish the ammonia would go down!

 

[Brew12]

Just got back from NYC.

Ammonia: 2ppm
Nitrates: 20ppm!

Now we're moving. I wish the ammonia would go down!

Well I'm sorry you had to go to NYC, but I'm thrilled it looks like your cycle is finally moving!

 

[glb]

Well I'm sorry you had to go to NYC, but I'm thrilled it looks like your cycle is finally moving!

Oh I had a blast! I love it up there! Any thoughts on why I still have ammonia? It is going down but much slower than the nitrates are going up.

 

[Brew12]

Oh I had a blast! I love it up there! Any thoughts on why I still have ammonia? It is going down but much slower than the nitrates are going up.

I would have hoped you would be further along but at this point nothing is too surprising. Not sure why you insist on making your cycle so challenging.

1 ppm ammonia breaks down into multiple ppm nitrates. You are on the right track.

If I had to throw darts at a board I would think it was 2 factors. First is that the last batch of Biospira was added before Prime. it wasn't by much but I'm sure it didn't help. The other thing I would consider possible is that the chloramine may have leached into your rock and may now be coming out. I don't know if this actually occurs but it wouldn't surprise me. Either way, I think I would regularly dose Prime for awhile as a "just in case" measure.

 

[glb]

I would have hoped you would be further along but at this point nothing is too surprising. Not sure why you insist on making your cycle so challenging.

1 ppm ammonia breaks down into multiple ppm nitrates. You are on the right track.

If I had to throw darts at a board I would think it was 2 factors. First is that the last batch of Biospira was added before Prime. it wasn't by much but I'm sure it didn't help. The other thing I would consider possible is that the chloramine may have leached into your rock and may now be coming out. I don't know if this actually occurs but it wouldn't surprise me. Either way, I think I would regularly dose Prime for awhile as a "just in case" measure.

Today's numbers:

Ammonia: still 2ppm but color a little lighter
Nitrites: trace
Nitrates: 20ppm

At what point can high nitrates be a problem? I know a water change at the end is needed before I add fish. But is there a point during the cycle where I need to bring down the nitrates.

 

[DaveRaz]

Interesting thread. I'm on day 7 using the same dr tims products.

Day one added ammonia to 2 ppm (764 drops)
Day two: ammonia 2ppm
Day three: ammonia 2ppm
Day four: ammonia 2 ppm
Day five starred measing no3: ammonia 2ppm no3 5ppm
Day six: ammonia 2ppm no3 5ppm
Day seven: first time registering nitrites: ammonia 2ppm, no2 .05, no3 5ppm

 

[Brew12]

Today's numbers:

Ammonia: still 2ppm but color a little lighter
Nitrites: trace
Nitrates: 20ppm

At what point can high nitrates be a problem? I know a water change at the end is needed before I add fish. But is there a point during the cycle where I need to bring down the nitrates.

Nope. Nitrates won't cause a problem. I wouldn't sweat it if they hit 100ppm. You may just need to do a bigger water change to get them down prior to adding fish.

 

[glb]

Nope. Nitrates won't cause a problem. I wouldn't sweat it if they hit 100ppm. You may just need to do a bigger water change to get them down prior to adding fish.

Is the skimmer helping at this point with the nitrates? It's finally broken in.

 

[Brew12]

Probably not much. Skimmers are much better at removing organics than they are pure nitrates. Since you used pure ammonia you don't have many organics to remove. If you are seeing much dark skimmate I would be surprised.

 

[glb]

Interesting thread. I'm on day 7 using the same dr tims products.

Day one added ammonia to 2 ppm (764 drops)
Day two: ammonia 2ppm
Day three: ammonia 2ppm
Day four: ammonia 2 ppm
Day five starred measing no3: ammonia 2ppm no3 5ppm
Day six: ammonia 2ppm no3 5ppm
Day seven: first time registering nitrites: ammonia 2ppm, no2 .05, no3 5ppm

Cool. I'm on day 29. Hope yours goes quicker.

 

[glb]

Probably not much. Skimmers are much better at removing organics than they are pure nitrates. Since you used pure ammonia you don't have many organics to remove. If you are seeing much dark skimmate I would be surprised.

No dark skimmate. Just tan colored and very little.

 

[glb]

Day 30

Ammonia: 1ppm!
Nitrites: trace
Nitrates: 20ppm

Woohoo! Finally. Should I let it go lower before I dose any more ammonia?

 

[Brew12]

Day 30

Ammonia: 1ppm!
Nitrites: trace
Nitrates: 20ppm

Woohoo! Finally. Should I let it go lower before I dose any more ammonia?

Great!!!

I would let it go lower. I know Dr Tim is an expert and I am a noob but I don't care for his recommendation because of how much Nitrate it leads to.

I would let it go to almost 0ppm and then dose it back up to 2ppm. I don't think it slows the cycle down too much but it does reduce the amount of nitrates significantly.

 

[glb]

Great!!!

I would let it go lower. I know Dr Tim is an expert and I am a noob but I don't care for his recommendation because of how much Nitrate it leads to.

I would let it go to almost 0ppm and then dose it back up to 2ppm. I don't think it slows the cycle down too much but it does reduce the amount of nitrates significantly.

Sounds good to me. I really don't want to do a huge water change!

 

[glb]

Day 32

Ammonia: .25ppm
Nitrite: .25ppm
Nitrates: 30-40ppm
pH: 7.6

I added enough ammonia to get it up to 2ppm. Looks like the cycle is almost done! The pH has dropped. Should I add the alk part of my 2-part to bring it up?

 

[Brew12]

Day 32

Ammonia: .25ppm
Nitrite: .25ppm
Nitrates: 30-40ppm
pH: 7.6

I added enough ammonia to get it up to 2ppm. Looks like the cycle is almost done! The pH has dropped. Should I add the alk part of my 2-part to bring it up?

Finally looking good!

Don't worry about pH. I would only add alk if your dkh is low. If alk it is where you want it, don't worry about pH. It won't impact your cycle.

 

[glb]

Finally looking good!

Don't worry about pH. I would only add alk if your dkh is low. If alk it is where you want it, don't worry about pH. It won't impact your cycle.

I haven't tested alk yet but I will. Is there anything I can do after it's done cycling to bring down the nitrates some so my water change isn't so massive?

 

[Brew12]

I haven't tested alk yet but I will. Is there anything I can do after it's done cycling to bring down the nitrates some so my water change isn't so massive?

Yes, you can. They sell chemicals that will shift your chemistry in any number of ways. Nopox is one that will reduce nitrates. You could also add macro algae like chaeto to consume the nitrates.

Personally, I would wait and just let it drop through a few smaller water changes. It seems like low nitrates are really only desirable for SPS's.

 

[glb]

Yes, you can. They sell chemicals that will shift your chemistry in any number of ways. Nopox is one that will reduce nitrates. You could also add macro algae like chaeto to consume the nitrates.

Personally, I would wait and just let it drop through a few smaller water changes. It seems like low nitrates are really only desirable for SPS's.

I think I'll get nopox. I really don't want to do a 50% water changes. Nitrates are 30-40 now and are only going up.