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Old 05-19-2001, 09:54 PM   #2 (permalink)
sharkbait
Teenie Weenie Fish
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 32
Post Re: opinions on ammonia addition during cycle

Madpad,
What is the nitrite reading?  If your ammonia is at zero, before the daily ammonia additions, then it's time to check your nitrites.  With no ammonia readings you should have a high nitrite reading.  

Day three and ammonia has already zeroed out, sounds like things are moving right along.  You need to keep adding enough ammonia every day to bring the level to 3-5 ppm.  When ammonia is present in your water the nitrosomas bacteria oxidize it into nitrite and the nitrobacter converts the nitrite into nitrate, and the nitrate you control through regular water changes.  The daily additions of ammonia keep this cycle going until you add the fish.

So to answer your question, yes, you should keep adding daily additions of ammonia, enough to bring the reading to 3-5 ppm,  until you see the ammonia and nitrite zero out.
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