How are my water parameters?
- Thread starter arkmann
- Start date
arkmann;1019670; said:
no, if you have measurable amounts of ammonia and nitrites but zero nitrates you are far from cycled. this means the biological filtration hasnt even began in the second step, which is converting nitrites into nitrates. i dont think its even possible to have zero nitrates in a cycled tank.
Yes it is possible. After 23 hours of doing the first water test, I re-tested it again about 5 minutes ago and I got the following readings
Amm - 0.02
NO2 - 0.05
NO3 - 20ppm
Ammonia readings are almost zero but not zero if the colors are compared. Previous readings last night were
0.25, 0.25, and 0. I guess I can say I am almost done cycling but due to my canister filter being 4 days old, the bacteria in it are "not living out its full potential" yet. From the readings though, it is almost there, almost done. My filters are keeping up with the current bio-load.
Amm - 0.02
NO2 - 0.05
NO3 - 20ppm
Ammonia readings are almost zero but not zero if the colors are compared. Previous readings last night were
0.25, 0.25, and 0. I guess I can say I am almost done cycling but due to my canister filter being 4 days old, the bacteria in it are "not living out its full potential" yet. From the readings though, it is almost there, almost done. My filters are keeping up with the current bio-load.
By looking at the test results you just posted, your ammonia will most likely be 0 in the next 24-48 hours and your tank will be completely cycled 
Nice! I guess I'll wait tomorrow to do a test.
I have a another question though. In a Penguin filter, does the beneficial bacteria stays only on the bio-wheel or both the bio-wheel and the cartridge inserts? I am asking that because I'm afraid I may have caused some beneficial bacteria to be lost because I washed the cartridge inserts with tap water about 3 weeks ago to clean up the filtered debris from the tank. That may have caused a "recycling" of the filter that caused the bacteria not being able to catch up with the current bio-load.
I have a another question though. In a Penguin filter, does the beneficial bacteria stays only on the bio-wheel or both the bio-wheel and the cartridge inserts? I am asking that because I'm afraid I may have caused some beneficial bacteria to be lost because I washed the cartridge inserts with tap water about 3 weeks ago to clean up the filtered debris from the tank. That may have caused a "recycling" of the filter that caused the bacteria not being able to catch up with the current bio-load.
You get a LOT of beneficial bacteria on your cartridges as well. You should NEVER wash your cartridge out under normal tap water. It will kill the good bacteria immediately. To clean a filter cartridge siphon some water from your tank into a 5 gallon bucket and clean the cartridges in there. This will not harm your bacteria. You will still lose a little this way, but not all of it like you would if you ran tap water over it. That is exactly what caused your tank to recycle...
i clean with tap water or change my cartridges completely every couple of weeks with zero probs for over 3 years. the beneficial bacteria basically grows on everything in your tank so changing or rinsing the cartridges should have no ill effect UNLESS your tank wasnt fully cycled to begin with which was your issue.
