8 Gouramis added on 11/25/2003. PH readings are taken with a Coralife digital PH meter. All other readings are taken with the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc Freshwater Aquarium test kit. The kit uses vials, drops, and color cards so the resolution is wide.
Day 1 (11/26/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.1
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0ppm (mg/L)
GH (General Hardness) 125.3
KH (Carbonate Hardness) 89.5
All fish are doing fine.
Day 2 (11/27/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.1
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0ppm (mg/L)
Day 3 (11/28/2003):
Had a small leak on UV filter fittings and lost 5 gallons of water before it was rectified. Added 5 gallons with Start Right and PH was 7.2. Added PH Down.
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.1
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0ppm (mg/L)
End result is a partial water change but still, no ammonia yet and the Nitrogen cycle hasn't started.
Day 4 (11/29/2003):
Added in bio wheels to the setup. "T"eed the output from the Canister Filter after the UV filter to go to one of each Marineland Bio Wheel 30.
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.1
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0ppm (mg/L)
The nitrogen cycle hasn't started.
Day 5 (11/30/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.2
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0ppm (mg/L)
The nitrogen cycle hasn't started.
Day 6 (12/1/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.2
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0ppm (mg/L)
The nitrogen cycle hasn't started.
Day 7 (12/2/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.2
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0 ppm (mg/L)
The nitrogen cycle hasn't started.
Day 8 (12/3/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.3
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): .25 - .50 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0 ppm (mg/L)
The nitrogen cycle has started. Added PH Down to reduce the PH to 7.2.
Day 9 (12/4/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.2
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): .50 - 1.0 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0 ppm (mg/L)
Added PH down to reduce the PH level to 7.1.
Day 10 (12/5/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.1
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): .50 - 1.0 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0 ppm (mg/L)
Added PH down to reduce the PH level to 7.0.
Day 10 (12/6/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.1
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): .5 - 1.0 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0 ppm (mg/L)
Performed 10% water change, put carbon in canister filter, added aeration to power heads.
Day 25 (12/30/2003):
After returning from the 15 day holiday vacation, the water level had receded 10% and lost 1 fish, the smallest Golden Gourami:
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.0
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 5 ppm (mg/L)
Performed a 40% water change, replenished 10% water loss and added Cycle.
Day 26 (12/31/2003):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.0
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): .5 ppm (mg/L)
NO3- (Nitrate): 5 ppm (mg/L)
Purchased a Nitrate test kit and added some live plants Anacharis and Java Moss.
Day 27 (1/1/2004):
PH: (Acid/Alkaline) 7.0
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia): 0 ppm (mg/L)
NO2- (Nitrite): 0 ppm (mg/L)
NO3- (Nitrate): 0 ppm (mg/L)
Nitrogen Cycle is complete. The live plants are using the nitrate and will grow. As they grow, will substitute live for artificial. The product Cycle indeed helped speed up the nitrogen cycle. From here on out will post if anything goes amiss and test approximately weekly, but the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels should stay at 0. The PH level will tend to get acid so monthly partial water changes (needed to remove toxins not tested for) and PHup will be used to keep the PH at 7.0 or close to it.
