Cycle Question

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by jeremya, Aug 12, 2012.

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  1. jeremya

    jeremya Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    May 17, 2012
    Messages:
    75
    Location:
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    Figured that I should stop crowding my build thread with all my questions.

    So here goes, I was gone for the a couple days. Before I left I checked to make sure everything was Kosher. Ammonia was at 4ppm, temp at 82, and everything else looked good. I came back today and the ammonia was >8ppm and the ph was >8.8. What the heck?!
    So I did a 10% water change, and we are at about 8.4ph (hard to tell, could be a touch lower), and about 2ppm. Still no -trites or -trates.

    Did I jack anything up? Good moves, bad moves? Was that normal?

    Thanks!
     
    jeremya, Aug 12, 2012
    jeremya, Aug 12, 2012
    #1

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  2. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

    Joined:
    May 28, 2011
    Messages:
    4,874
    Location:
    USA
    How long has your tank been cycling, and what did you add for the ammonia source?

    I wouldn't concern myself with pH at the moment- the nitrogen cycle can cause that to waver. With ammonia >8 ppm, your cycle may have stalled, so good job on the WC. Just keep watching for nitrites, now. :)
     
    Mr. Bill, Aug 12, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Aug 12, 2012
    #2
  3. jeremya

    jeremya Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    May 17, 2012
    Messages:
    75
    Location:
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    Cool! Thanks for the reply.

    I've been adding clear ammonia as needed and dropping some frozen food in now and then. Been trying to keep it at between 2-4ppm. The spike was a little surprising; there shouldn't be anything dead in there to rot. I saw a slight spike from adding the frozen food, but that was days before the spike to 8. *Shrug*
     
    jeremya, Aug 12, 2012
    jeremya, Aug 12, 2012
    #3