getting close ?

[etr63]

Hi all

God I love this forum, such a wealth of information.

I have a 55 gal that I am fishless cycling for my first discus tank. Tank has been up for 5 weeks now. Here are my test results.

temp 82
PH 6.0
ammonia 1 ppm
nitrite 5 ppm
nitrate 100 mg\1
gh 143.2
kh 71.6 ppm

What stage in the game do you think the cycle is in?

I am using 2 hydrosponge V filters. bare bottom. How can I tell if the filters are working?

[Carol_Roberts]

How to tell? Do a 100% water change and add 3 ppm ammonia. Tomorrow test for ammonia,nitrITe and nitrAte again. Post results.

[etr63]

Hi Carol
Did what you asked but ended up with 4 ppm of ammonia after adding last night.

test results today
time span approx. 21 hrs

ammonia 1 ppm
nitrITe 2 pm
nitrAte 12.5 mg\1

Thanks
Earl

[Carol_Roberts]

Looks like it's almost cycled. Don't add ammonia today and test tomorrow. Post results.

[etr63]

Hi Carol

todays results

ammonia 0 ppm

NitrIte 5 ppm

NitrAte 25 mg\1

Thanks
Earl

[Carol_Roberts]

The ammonia bacteria are working hard, the nitrIte ones aren't pulling their weight yet. Keep feeding a little bit of ammonia every couple of days - do this test again in a few days. IT's ready for discus when the ammonia and the nitrIte drop to zero after 24 hours.

[etr63]

Thanks for all the help Carol. I willl do as you suggested. I feel like a little kid waiting for Chritsmas to get here. Cant wait to get my discus.

Thanks again

Earl