My setup so far

why?

17/04/08
Ammonia 4ppm
Nitrite 0.5ppm

When should I start checking for the nitrAte?

Also when roughly will this nitrite spike come?

You dont need to check for nitrate until after you have had your Nitrite spike, really. As your nitrite goes down you will see an increase in the nitrate levels.

As for when the 'spike' comes probably after about 2 weeks or so, but that's only from my rather dodgy memory!

okies well this is my 8th day into the cycle.

Slowly my water is evaporating too....Ill have to top up if it drops below the spray bar as I cant sleep with that going all night long...

Well atm my nitrite has stayed level at .5 im expecting it will shoot into the whole numbers for the spike

Id best go re read fishless cycle!

*btw shaking all the chemical botles too - not effecting the results

Patience my child!! :lol: Dont worry GD, it will all happen eventually.

18/04/08
Ammonia 4ppm
Nitrite 1ppm

19/04/08
Ammonia 4ppm (Dosed back to 4)
Nitrite 1ppm

Thats good GD, your nitrite is starting to climb up so everything is going well.

20/04/08
Ammonia 4ppm
Nitrite 2ppm

Next colour for the API is 5 so I guess it will be a while til it hits that mark?

11 days in the cycle - IM BORED I WANT FISH

LOL, it will be worth the wait. Sounds like you are on the right track and doing well.

Do lots of research into what fish you'd like GD 'coz believe me, you'll change your mind 101 times.

21/04/08
Ammonia 4ppm
Nitrite 2ppm

about how many days in does this nitrite spike occur?

How low is your ammonia going GD? You're just getting to about the half way mark in the cycle (a rough guestimate!) so it's a bit early yet to be expecting a 'spike'.

Diana wrote:

How low is your ammonia going GD? You're just getting to about the half way mark in the cycle (a rough guestimate!) so it's a bit early yet to be expecting a 'spike'.

Ive only had to dose a few time within the 10 days. Lowest it has been is 2ppm possibly 1ppm. So im guesing it happens when I keep having to dose everyday.

As long as this is done before May 2nd Im getting Laser eye surgery so there is not a cat in hells chance ill be able to judge colours lol!!

GeordieDave wrote:

As long as this is done before May 2nd Im getting Laser eye surgery so there is not a cat in hells chance ill be able to judge colours lol!!

You'll have to post photos of the colour charts then so we can give you a second opinion! :lol:

Mary wrote:

Do lots of research into what fish you'd like GD 'coz believe me, you'll change your mind 101 times.

I want Galaxy Rasbora - But im not expecting to actualy be able to get any

Mary wrote:

GeordieDave wrote:

As long as this is done before May 2nd Im getting Laser eye surgery so there is not a cat in hells chance ill be able to judge colours lol!!

You'll have to post photos of the colour charts then so we can give you a second opinion! :lol:

HAHA that may be a very good idea Ill have to stand out somewhere very bright tho and my neighbours will think im nuts taking photos of testubes in the garden LOL

GeordieDave wrote:

my neighbours will think im nuts taking photos of testubes in the garden LOL

Needs must. :lol:

22/04/08
Ammonia 4ppm (dosed 1.5ml Ammonia)
Nitrite 2ppm

I've just finished mine today GD . Dont worry, you'll be there soon!

carole wrote:

I've just finished mine today GD . Dont worry, you'll be there soon!

Sigh, I do hope so - How many days did it take? Also what testing kit were you using?

API MAsterkit, and it took about 3 1/2 weeks all in all. I thought it had stalled for a while because nothing seemed to be happening but then it all started to shift again.

Are you designing your tank while you are doing the cycle? I spend my time getting the backdrop on the tank, looking at what ornaments I wanted, stuff like that. I used to re-arrange things in the tnk all the time, and filled it with some fake plants to make it look nice, but also so I dont have to do that AND get fish for it all at once too.

It does help pass the time though :lol:

Thats what I used to do too carole. I even took some pohotos of the empty tank!

Well Im wanting Live plants, but people say that they slow down the cycle so ll I have is an ornament of a tree stump sat in there.

I want a few large backdrop plants to hide heater then some mid plants to plant around the sides with something attaching onto the Bogwood.

Ah go on..... go and buy yourself a wrecked galleon and a Ancient egypt back drop................you know you want to!! :lol: