QUICK START EXPERIMENT!
Alright, I have done this before.... not with the large bioload that I will be experimenting with this time (last time, 20gal tank and pair of German Blue Rams).... but had great results..... So I wanted to open a thread to show you guys Day by Day results on Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia Levels using API's Quick Start cycle method.
Just to give you guys a little run-down on my situation because normally I always cycle my tank with feeders doing a 3 week cycle before adding my selected fish to a tank... (Cruel to the feeders, dont write hate messages on this thread cause of it, they will be deleted, just PM me) Anyway, My tank had a big problem, (check " HELP STINK TANK" thread) it currently is stocked with approx. 10 demasoni, 12 Rusty mallawi cichlids, as well as 9 L. Brevis Tanganyika Shell dwelling cichlids. (Again, no hate posts, PM me if you want to talk about mixing lakes) its a 55gal standard glass tank... I have two Aqueon HOB filters, there largest model, and second to largest model, and a 300 watt heater keeping tank steady 80 Degrees.
AFter doing nearly 100% water change, and changing all filter media/cartridges, then adding the appropriate amount of API Quick Start straight to the tank water..... I waited 4 hours and ran a test on the water.
DAY #1 Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0 Nitrite
0.0 Ammonia
DAY #2 Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0-0.25ppm Nitrite
0.25-0.50ppm Ammonia
DAY #3 Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.25-0.55 Nitrite
0.75-1.0 Ammonia
DAY #4 Results
2.0 NItrate
0.55 Nitrite
0.5 Ammonia
DAY #5 Results
2.0 Nitrate
0.55-0.75 Nitrite
0.5 Ammonia
8.7 PH (done to see if it effects PH at all) First time I did the experiment I thought it had effected PH, but this is the first time actually testing the theory.
I will continue to report 1x daily on this thread.... I will just add to this first post so people dont have to look thru peoples comments to find results for day 2, 3, etc etc.
Alright, after 6 days of bad results I decided to 100% flush the tank..... because of a very bad order coming from the filter cartridges they had to be changed as well..... So, back to the drawing board... This time I am using TETRA Brand so.... starting over again
DAY #1 Tetra Brand Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0 Nitrite
0.0 Ammonia
Day #2 Tetra brand Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0 Nitrite
0.0 Ammonia
Alright, I have done this before.... not with the large bioload that I will be experimenting with this time (last time, 20gal tank and pair of German Blue Rams).... but had great results..... So I wanted to open a thread to show you guys Day by Day results on Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia Levels using API's Quick Start cycle method.
Just to give you guys a little run-down on my situation because normally I always cycle my tank with feeders doing a 3 week cycle before adding my selected fish to a tank... (Cruel to the feeders, dont write hate messages on this thread cause of it, they will be deleted, just PM me) Anyway, My tank had a big problem, (check " HELP STINK TANK" thread) it currently is stocked with approx. 10 demasoni, 12 Rusty mallawi cichlids, as well as 9 L. Brevis Tanganyika Shell dwelling cichlids. (Again, no hate posts, PM me if you want to talk about mixing lakes) its a 55gal standard glass tank... I have two Aqueon HOB filters, there largest model, and second to largest model, and a 300 watt heater keeping tank steady 80 Degrees.
AFter doing nearly 100% water change, and changing all filter media/cartridges, then adding the appropriate amount of API Quick Start straight to the tank water..... I waited 4 hours and ran a test on the water.
DAY #1 Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0 Nitrite
0.0 Ammonia
DAY #2 Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0-0.25ppm Nitrite
0.25-0.50ppm Ammonia
DAY #3 Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.25-0.55 Nitrite
0.75-1.0 Ammonia
DAY #4 Results
2.0 NItrate
0.55 Nitrite
0.5 Ammonia
DAY #5 Results
2.0 Nitrate
0.55-0.75 Nitrite
0.5 Ammonia
8.7 PH (done to see if it effects PH at all) First time I did the experiment I thought it had effected PH, but this is the first time actually testing the theory.
I will continue to report 1x daily on this thread.... I will just add to this first post so people dont have to look thru peoples comments to find results for day 2, 3, etc etc.
Alright, after 6 days of bad results I decided to 100% flush the tank..... because of a very bad order coming from the filter cartridges they had to be changed as well..... So, back to the drawing board... This time I am using TETRA Brand so.... starting over again
DAY #1 Tetra Brand Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0 Nitrite
0.0 Ammonia
Day #2 Tetra brand Results
0.0 Nitrate
0.0 Nitrite
0.0 Ammonia
but, this was similar to what I got with the first experiment, day2 and 3 scared the bajesus out of me.... I think the reading werent as high though, but that was with allot smaller fish, allot less bioload..... I will be doing a water 30% water change and vacume day 4.