ammonia

[coley83]

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i just started a 24g nano tank and my dad says that i need to start the process with a dead shrimp. so i put a shimp in. everyday i check the ammonia to make sure that is not too bad and this test was done 3 days after the dead shrimp was put in. yep thats my test tub for ammonia. so i took the shrimp out! i'm scared to check it today. i hope it doesn't get any darker. and the nitrite and nitrates nned to start changing color. so far they are at 0. :unsure: :sad: . oh man.

 

[stacy22]

I am so happy that you have your tank up and running! This hobby is amazing. Hope you like it as much as the rest of us do!

Your water chemistry will stabilize in a few weeks and then it will be time to start feeding your tank... MONEY. :thumbs:

 

[bobz]

The nitrifying bacteria will kick up and the ammonia with be converted to nitrite and then to nitrate before too long.
found this awhile back:
The nitrification process is carried out by two different types of bacteria. Nitrosomonas carry out the first step of the process, producing nitrite.

The resulting nitrite is then converted to nitrate by Nitrobacters.

These reactions, although thermodynamically favorable, occur slowly. The rate of these reactions seems to be limited by the slow growth rates of the bacteria involved.

So, patience is the key. As others have said, don't add anything to the tank until the process is done.

 

[bobz]

:lol2: oh yeah.

 

[coley83]

bratliff;234292 wrote: Very nice explaination... and then, once this process is done, you get algea!

wait ... i have to wait to see algea. i thought it started now? it doesn't start until the process is done. so i won't see algea for another 5 weeks or so?
that stinks... so when algea starts then the cycle is done? what about my LR or my live sand ... its gonna survive?

 

[bobz]

You will probably start seeing algae of some sort very soon depending on lighting hours, etc. Do not worry. Diatoms usually start to explode after a week or so, then they tend to be replaced by higher forms of algaes. It all happens simultaneously. You will be good to go in a couple of weeks. When I set my first 70G back up, I waited about 5 weeks before I added the first fish, the clean up crew (hermits, etc) went in at about 4 weeks. But I am overly cautious.

 

[ralph atl]

dawgdude;234827 wrote: I would check out the book The Conscientious Marine Aquarist</em> while your tank is cycling. It will answer a BUNCH of your question and will be a huge help when you start stocking your tank. Its available on Amazon and will save you ALOT of money in the long run since you will learn so much.

she's got it.