QT - not sure about Cycling weird info

imfsub12

imfsub12

Member
Ok i got my QT cycling for about May 5 and here are my info I have some weird results. I have nothing in my QT 10 G tank.. I used some of my water from my 29G DT, and a shrimp to kick start it.. had it in there for about 4 days.. (there is nothing else in the tank, no sand, or rocks)
But not sure why my nitrite is so high still, and my nitrate is going down...when i did my DT got much different results. I have to do a test tonight still.. Any help on this one would be good
May 5, 2007
PH - 0
AMMONIA - 0.15
NITRITE - 0.01
NITRATE - 0
May 9,2007
PH - 8.3
AMMONIA - 0.2
NITRITE - 0.02
NITRATE - 0
May 14, 2007
PH - ~
AMMONIA - 2.5
NITRITE - 5
NITRATE - 1
May 18, 2007
PH - 8.2
AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 20
NITRATE - 20
May 22,2007
PH - 8.3
AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 25
NITRATE - 10
 
dawman

dawman

Active Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12
ya i know that.. but why are they so high??? seems backwards...

Hmmmm , no . Ammonia turns into nitrite[amm. goes down and trites go up ] , then trites will turn into trates[trites and trates will build up ]and trites will hang around while trates lower a bit then you will see trites lower and eventually 0 out . Depending on your filtration , you will show 0 to low trates .
This is how I was told years ago and seems to go about like that . But I have noticed that some tanks will cycle a little different .
 
dawman

dawman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Lesleybird
You cannot cycle a bare tank.

Oh yes you can . I`ve done it many times in the past when waiting for substrate,rock , and etc. I also have done so with both my QTs .
 
imfsub12

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by Lesleybird
You cannot cycle a bare tank.
i read on here you can...
what am i supose to put in it.... its a QT TANK
 
imfsub12

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by Dawman
Hmmmm , no . Ammonia turns into nitrite[amm. goes down and trites go up ] , then trites will turn into trates[trites and trates will build up ]and trites will hang around while trates lower a bit then you will see trites lower and eventually 0 out . Depending on your filtration , you will show 0 to low trates .
This is how I was told years ago and seems to go about like that . But I have noticed that some tanks will cycle a little different .

i know what you are talking about.. but i'm just saying that its really diffrent from my DT cycle... and even talked to lfs and they say the same thing...
but i'm just waiting and seeing what happens
 
dawman

dawman

Active Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12
i know what you are talking about.. but i'm just saying that its really diffrent from my DT cycle... and even talked to lfs and they say the same thing...
but i'm just waiting and seeing what happens

It`s not going be like your DT , your QT is empty . You are near then end of the cycle .
 
lesleybird

lesleybird

Active Member
Originally Posted by Dawman
Oh yes you can . I`ve done it many times in the past when waiting for substrate,rock , and etc. I also have done so with both my QTs .
It will be a very paultry cycle at best with only the amount of bacteria that can stick to the glass....not much surface to grow a good culture to take on much amonia at all.
 
dawman

dawman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Lesleybird
It will be a very paultry cycle at best with only the amount of bacteria that can stick to the glass....not much surface to grow a good culture to take on much amonia at all.

Guessing you don`t have a QT ? Bacteria doesn`t stick to the filter and biological media ?
 
lesleybird

lesleybird

Active Member
Yes I do have a quarentine tank. Kind of rude of you to state that you guess I don't.
I put pre-packaged sand with live bacteria and a few rocks in mine. I leave out the inverts and worms. If I need to treat the tank with something like copper I would not reuse the rocks and sand. Don't like to leave them in an empty tank where they are stressed and even more likely to get sick.
Lesley
 
dawman

dawman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Lesleybird
Yes I do have a quarentine tank. Kind of rude of you to state that you guess I don't.
I put pre-packaged sand with live bacteria and a few rocks in mine. I leave out the inverts and worms. If I need to treat the tank with something like copper I would not reuse the rocks and sand. Don't like to leave them in an empty tank where they are stressed and even more likely to get sick.
Lesley
Rude ? No , trust me you would know if I wanted to be rude . Also the sand and rock in your QT will absorb any chemicals you would need to treat a fish .
My QTs are bare bottoms with a few fake plants and decor for hiding spots when first introduced . I`ve had a lot of fish in my QTs over the years and never lost a fish .
 
shrimpi

shrimpi

Active Member
Originally Posted by Dawman
Rude ? No , trust me you would know if I wanted to be rude . .
LOL? You'd KNOW if IM mad!?!? GRRRRR

Be afraid, be very afraid.
 
imfsub12

imfsub12

Member
ok back to my posting.. just ran todays results and here they are
Amonnia - 0
nitrite - 25
nitrate - 50
so my nitrate is going higher.. what do you guys think????
should i do a a 10% water change????
any advice would help out....
 
dawman

dawman

Active Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12
ok back to my posting.. just ran todays results and here they are
Amonnia - 0
nitrite - 25
nitrate - 50
so my nitrate is going higher.. what do you guys think????
should i do a a 10% water change????
any advice would help out....
Hmmm , you did remove the shrimp , right ?
Maybe try some nitra-sorb
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
Alright, you don't have much surface area for bacteria to grow on, but yes a cycle can complete even if there isn't much in the tank. I did the same thing, and my tank cycled. You obviously, or should have the following. HOB filter, QVC, heater, and a powerhead (some people don't use them in a qt). You may want to get a sponge filter or buy a sponge that will fit on your powerhead (this is what I have). The sponge will provide a surface where beneficial bacteria can grow. Now I would ghost feed the tank, what you would feed one fish. Don't overdue it though. Once your tank has completely cycled continue to ghost feed the tank, and make sure you don't have a mini cycle start again. This happened to me and I had fish in it. I ghost fed the tank and made sure it cycled again, and I have had zero problem since. Good luck.
 
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