Should I see a spike? Amonia began the day at .25 and now is at .5 at best. Nitrate and Nitrites still look to be 0. Everything looks clean and no real bad smell from the tank. Perhaps a gentle cycle.........or is the worst yet to come. How did everyone elses readings progress?
1 Day down, not much happening
- Thread starter snooter1
- Start date
Cearbhaill
Premium Member
Mine never ever got any higher than those readings.
Fountainhead
New member
Hi Snooter1. My first shipment went in the tank about 2 1/2 days ago. I've not yet gotten to 0.25 on the Salifert ammonia test kit. I went out and bought another brand of kit, and that shows 0.1. My Nitrites are at 0.3, and the Nitrates are around 10, though I find that one hard to read. I've done no water changes. Like you, I keep waiting for the big spike and the big water changes.
I have 60 gallons + of prepared water gurling away and I may never need it. My concern is if you do not get a spike, is the biological filter stroing enough going forward. I put my rock in ASAP after it arrived and it went from box to tank. Was trying to limit die off. Guess I did. Here hopping for a quick cycle. Cannot wait to get shipment #2. May wait two weeks even if the numbers come in good earlier. Have you though of feeding yet.
Fountainhead
New member
Well, I'm too much of a newbie to answer your last questions, but my gut feeling is that if we cycle out in 5 to 7 days with no big spike, that can only be a good thing. I'm also not sure if most cycles start slowly, then spike after a few days...or if most big spikes occur early on. Maybe Richard, or another knowledgable individual will enlighten us. As of now...my own numbers are very low and holding steady. Good news, I'd think.
Fountainhead
New member
I also have PC lighting. I have a pair of 96W 10,000K, and a pair of 96W Aktinek. I've staggered them so that the 10,000K's are running for 5 hours, and the Aktinek's start 30 minutes earlier, and run 30 minutes longer. So 6 hours total. I think 10 hours might be a little long at this point, but I'm not exactly experienced. Again, maybe Richard will set us straight the next time he check in.
