So I went out and brought two new 1.5ft tanks as you may already know can't remember if I posted lol anyway these will be dedicated to shrimp only and plants. My question is day 3 of cycling is this normal readings. 

Tank 1 and 2 both read the same both have Ada Amazonia soil. 

Ph - 7.6 but on high range it's 7.4

ammonia - 0ppm

nitrite - 0.50ppm 

nitrate - 5.0ppm 

 

0 ammonia in a 3 day old tank with ADA is not normal. You should be swimming in it.

46 minutes ago, jayc said:

0 ammonia in a 3 day old tank with ADA is not normal. You should be swimming in it.

the soil was 3 months old when i got it if that makes a difference?

why would i have 0 ammonia but still show nitrites ? and how long until my ph buffers down?

Edited May 17, 201610 yr by Mitch91

35 minutes ago, Mitch91 said:

the soil was 3 months old when i got it if that makes a difference?

yes, that does make a difference.

 

10 minutes ago, Mitch91 said:

why would i have 0 ammonia but still show nitrites ?

This would only make sense, if you are using mature filter media, ie, filter media that already has beneficial bacteria on it.

Are you using old filter media??

 

 

12 minutes ago, Mitch91 said:

and how long until my ph buffers down?

Depends on how quickly your tank cycles. No one can give you an accurate timeframe.

You can quicken the cycling by providing the bacteria an optimal environment. Heat, oxygen and food source.

Heat = temperatures of 27-28 deg C - have you got a heater in there?

Oxygen = water movement by way of your filter.

Food source = ammonia & nitrites. 

something is not right there the ph should be down around 6. I think then soil might be older than 3 months.

perhaps you should let everything sit for 24hrs and take some more readings!

 

1 minute ago, jayc said:

yes, that does make a difference.

 

This would only make sense, if you are using mature filter media, ie, filter media that already has beneficial bacteria on it.

Are you using old filter media??

 

 

Depends on how quickly your tank cycles. No one can give you an accurate timeframe.

You can quicken the cycling by providing the bacteria an optimal environment. Heat, oxygen and food source.

Heat = temperatures of 27-28 deg C - have you got a heater in there?

Oxygen = water movement by way of your filter.

Food source = ammonia & nitrites. 

ive added plants from an established tank, a bit of gravel thats in a mesh bag from the established tank. heater yes its active on 27 degrees, i also added some water from my already running tank into this tank.

3 minutes ago, inverted said:

something is not right there the ph should be down around 6. I think then soil might be older than 3 months.

perhaps you should let everything sit for 24hrs and take some more readings!

 

yes well 3 days id think it would be down too but idk im confused first time using these sorts of soils, i really hope it does drop down into the 6s

2 minutes ago, Mitch91 said:

plants from an established tank, a bit of gravel thats in a mesh bag from the established tank.

That would explain it then.

There is some BB (Beneficial Bacteria) on the plants and old gravel to process the ammonia but not enough BB to completely process all the Nitrites from your 3 month old substrate. And since the substrate has already been used and cycled in a previous tank, it does not have the usual ammonia release like brand new Amazonia. 

1 hour ago, jayc said:

That would explain it then.

There is some BB (Beneficial Bacteria) on the plants and old gravel to process the ammonia but not enough BB to completely process all the Nitrites from your 3 month old substrate. And since the substrate has already been used and cycled in a previous tank, it does not have the usual ammonia release like brand new Amazonia. 

oh okay how long do you reckon until its usable ? so the ph will buffer down once its cycled ?

 

Edited May 17, 201610 yr by Mitch91

3 hours ago, Mitch91 said:

oh okay how long do you reckon until its usable ?

Keep testing Ammonia and Nitrites regularly. When they reach zero, it's ready.

3 hours ago, Mitch91 said:

so the ph will buffer down once its cycled ?

Yes. The process of nitrification reduces pH.

8 hours ago, jayc said:

Keep testing Ammonia and Nitrites regularly. When they reach zero, it's ready.

Yes. The process of nitrification reduces pH.

Should I do water changes ? 

left side is tank 2 ammonia/nitrites.

right side is nitrites/ammonia 

12 minutes ago, Mitch91 said:

Should I do water changes ? 

Not necessary yet while ph is still in the 7s.

When pH drops below 6, BB will start slowing down, and can stop functioning at pH lower than 5. That is the  time to change water, at pH 6, with dechlroniated tap water to bring the pH back up.

3 minutes ago, jayc said:

Not necessary yet while ph is still in the 7s.

When pH drops below 6, BB will start slowing down, and can stop functioning at pH lower than 5. That is the  time to change water, at pH 6, with dechlroniated tap water to bring the pH back up.

Alrighty then thanks so much for your help and sorry for so many questions only new to all this with aqua soils. 

1 hour ago, Mitch91 said:

Alrighty then thanks so much for your help and sorry for so many questions only new to all this with aqua soils. 

No problem. Now that you are an expert on cycling, you could help the next person :)

 

Having a look at your tests again, the ammonia is more 0.25ppm rather than 0ppm.

Edited May 17, 201610 yr by jayc

2 minutes ago, jayc said:

No problem. Not that you are an expert on cycling, you could help the next person :)

 

Having a look at your tests again, the ammonia is more 0.25ppm rather than 0ppm.

Yeah those test where done this morning, I have to agree with the 0.25ppm. 

Well, good luck.

Keep us updated with the progress.