QT Information for those cycling for the first time

[rjjr1963]

This is my first QT tank and I made a graph showing water parameters. Today is the third full week of cycling and when nitrites go to zero I think I'll be good to go. I might dose ammonia one more time to see how efficiently the bacteria are working. I started with a raw shrimp on day one and left it in for 24 hrs. I went to pure ammonia and spiked it twice to get the cycle going. I used Dr. Tim's bacteria as well. I have a HOB filter and a sponge.

Definitely takes patience but I've used the time to get familiar with testing.

 

[scooter31707]

Your nirites are going to go down and your nirates will go up and then down. Wait for the nirates to go back down. Some hobbyists do water changes at that time and some don't.

 

[rjjr1963]

I didn't realize nitrates could go down. I thought only water changes would bring it down.

 

[RayAllen3422]

I didn't realize nitrates could go down. I thought only water changes would bring it down.

I was under the same impression but I see a lot of people on here talking about nitrates going down at the end of the cycle. From what I understand, the only reason they may appear to go down is due to the presence of nitrites making test kits for nitrates not accurate. I may be wrong but that is what I have gathered.

 

[Happyschneider]

Nitrates go down if there are places where anaerobic bacteria can grow and metabolise nitrate further to nitrogen gas. This then disappears into thin air

Other ways are that algae start growing and incorporate the nitrate. However this is not so likely as you most likely have no phosphates in there.

Finally, there might also be bacteria growing which use the nitrate to synthesise amino acids etc. However this is unlikely without a decent carbon source.

In salt water water changes is more important to bring back lost trace elements rather than removing nitrates (10% every two weeks would not be very effective).

 

[Happyschneider]

As this is a qt, you most likely will not have any LS so you probably will not have much anaerobic places, so nitrates might not disappear in thus case.