The Puffer Forum

jmiller wrote:All future readings will be ph/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate
9/23 ---/0+/5+/40+.....added 2.5 ml, just the slightest tint not quite bright yellow that's why the +
9/24 7.9/.25/5+/20+.....added 2.5 ml
9/25 7.9/4+/2+/20+.....WTH?
I don't know why the ammonia reading is so high. I did the test twice and got the same reading each time. I'll probably check again in the morning.

did you do a large water change at 9/23?

it may have been a tad more ammonia than the biofilter could handle.
At that point I usually let it rest 2 days and add (sacrificial) fish and test again 2x daily.

No I didn't. I normally don't until I get my first zero readings of ammonia/nitrite at 24hrs.

I tested this morning and got 7.9/0/1/40

I think I'm going to start dosing 2ml and see how it goes. Since it's being cycled for a 1"-2" fish I think I'll be safe doing that.

You do know you're supposed to cut the dosage in 1/2, after you see nitrite.

Pufferpunk wrote:You do know you're supposed to cut the dosage in 1/2, after you see nitrite.

I never have in the past. What is the reasoning behind doing that? I'm not doubting just trying to learn.
So tonight I should dose 1ml?

Have you read our articles on fishless cycling? We have another one from RTR to post.

I have read it in the past and just reread it. It just says "do this", no reason why.

Maybe RTR will see this and can write an explanation in laymen's terms.

By lowering the dosage doesn't that just make the cycle speed up but make the tank unable to process as much waste?

Maybe it gives the nitrites a chance to level off and drop making things more stable.

All future readings will be ph/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate
9/16 8.3/>2/0/5.....added 1ml more
9/16 ---/<4/-/-.....that's what I was looking for
9/17 ---/<2/-/-
9/18 ---/<2/-/-.....added media "squeezings" from snail tank
9/19 ---/<2/-/-.....seem to be stuck, added media "squeezings" from 10 gal dwarf tank
9/20 ---/<2/-/-.....just going to wait it out
9/21 ---/<1/-/-.....finally some movement
9/22 7.9/0/1+/20.....added 2.5ml ammonia = >2<4, so we'll call it 3ppm
9/23 ---/0+/5+/40+.....added 2.5 ml, just the slightest tint not quite bright yellow that's why the +
9/24 7.9/.25/5+/20+.....added 2.5 ml
9/25 7.9/4+/2+/20+.....WTH?
9/26 7.9/0/1+/40.....am reading
9/26 ---/0/1/10.....pm reading, that nitrate reading is all over the place so it can't be accurate...added 2ml by mistake I'll cut it back next dosing

All future readings will be ph/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate
9/16 8.3/>2/0/5.....added 1ml more
9/16 ---/<4/-/-.....that's what I was looking for
9/17 ---/<2/-/-
9/18 ---/<2/-/-.....added media "squeezings" from snail tank
9/19 ---/<2/-/-.....seem to be stuck, added media "squeezings" from 10 gal dwarf tank
9/20 ---/<2/-/-.....just going to wait it out
9/21 ---/<1/-/-.....finally some movement
9/22 7.9/0/1+/20.....added 2.5ml ammonia = >2<4, so we'll call it 3ppm
9/23 ---/0+/5+/40+.....added 2.5 ml, just the slightest tint not quite bright yellow that's why the +
9/24 7.9/.25/5+/20+.....added 2.5 ml
9/25 7.9/4+/2+/20+.....WTH?
9/26 7.9/0/1+/40.....am reading
9/26 ---/0/1/10.....pm reading, that nitrate reading is all over the place so it can't be accurate...added 2ml by mistake I'll cut it back next dosing
9/27 7.9/0/.25/80.....dosed 1ml...expect to see double zeros tomorrow, if so the 80% WC and testing twice a day

Just for grins I checked it this morning at 12 hours, it was ---/0/.25/---

So tonight I'll do the big water change and start dosing 1.5ml, which should put me at 2ppm, and start checking every 12 hours.

All future readings will be ph/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate
9/16 8.3/>2/0/5.....added 1ml more
9/16 ---/<4/-/-.....that's what I was looking for
9/17 ---/<2/-/-
9/18 ---/<2/-/-.....added media "squeezings" from snail tank
9/19 ---/<2/-/-.....seem to be stuck, added media "squeezings" from 10 gal dwarf tank
9/20 ---/<2/-/-.....just going to wait it out
9/21 ---/<1/-/-.....finally some movement
9/22 7.9/0/1+/20.....added 2.5ml ammonia = >2<4, so we'll call it 3ppm
9/23 ---/0+/5+/40+.....added 2.5 ml, just the slightest tint not quite bright yellow that's why the +
9/24 7.9/.25/5+/20+.....added 2.5 ml
9/25 7.9/4+/2+/20+.....WTH?
9/26 7.9/0/1+/40.....am reading
9/26 ---/0/1/10.....pm reading, that nitrate reading is all over the place so it can't be accurate...added 2ml by mistake I'll cut it back next dosing
9/27 7.9/0/.25/80.....dosed 1ml...expect to see double zeros tomorrow, if so the 80% WC and testing twice a day.
9/28 am ---/0/.25/-
9/28 pm ---/0/0/-.....80% WC took nitrate down to 20, dosed 1.5ml and ammonia reading was 2ppm

I called the LFS and their delivery dates are Friday and Tuesday. So it depends on the next few days readings when I'll order it. Hopefully it will be soon. I'll do what I did before, take a half day off work and go pick it up still bagged from the distributor.

It kept hitting 0/0 at 12 hrs so I called it good. Did a 50% WC on the 29th & 30th and placed the order. So here she is:







She has been named Emma Tasha by my grand daughter, Emma for short. Within 15 minutes she was already eating bloodworms. Still surfing the glass a little but doing quite a bit of exploring in between. More pics once she settles in.

looks good, congrats on the GSP

Looks fantastic!

Looks fantastic!