The Puffer Forum

ah ok , i guess im just a bit panicky because i messed it up last time : ). I can get some squeezings from my cousins tank will that help a lot?

** im also very anxious to get my dwarf puffers : ) they gotta wait till its cycled! : (

Sure. Or better yet, see if he'll just give you the old cartridge.

ok im getting fustrated now.
2Lbs of used LFS gravel in nylon stockings ( dec 2nd) ( dosed to 4ppm ammonia)

Took readings about 10 minutes ago
Ammonia - 4PPM , still hasnt moved FROM dec 2nd
nitrites - 0

????

There was probably only enough bacteria to seed your tank with -some- bacteria but probably still not enough to cycle your water immediately with that much ammonia. The ammonia by itself should naturally be building up your biological filtration; however, this will take some time regardless.

Best of luck.

wuuuuu today marks day 10 and im starting to see ammonia dropping : )))))))

OMG! .50 NITRITES!!!! first read

Huzzah! You're gettin' there.

Good Work!

update!
today i did testings , after a 24 hour period my 4-5ppm ammonia went to 0!
nitrite color is 1 i believe ( so hard to tell on that api freshwater kit)
nitrates i had 10

should i start cutting ammonia doses? or get nitrites higher?

I believe you are supposed to cut your ammonia in 1/2 after your nitrite spikes.

alright so an update last night i did the routine checks.

Nitrites was down a bit to 4ish
Put my half dose of ammonia

Today i had 0 ammonia , 0 nitrites , 5 nitrates (< ive read that these are suppose to be a lot higher) and my ph @ 6.4 , ( ph is only 7 from well water)
i do have a piece of wood in the tank also , did something go wrong or is it cycled?

Nothing looks wrong. Wood lowers pH. Try boiling your wood to get all the tannins out, too, since the tannins lower the pH. You can let it soak in a big bucket for 2 weeks, or boil it for three hours if you have a big enough pot.

To me, it looks like your cycle is complete. Nitrates go up when more ammonia is being produced. You might see higher nitrates when your fish are actually in the tank and you start doing weekly water changes. My nitrates don't go up past 5 because I have lots of live plants.