Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So is there a thread that says what to expect and look for with your testing values and what you should be trying to shoot for when you are trying to get your system to start cycling? for example:



week 1:
ph = 6.4
ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrites=0ppm
Nitraes= 0ppm

week 2:
ph = 6.4
ammonia = .5 ppm
Nitrites = .5 ppm
Nitrates = 0ppm



etc., etc.

I know it varies depending on what ph you are starting with, etc, but it would be so lovely to know what to be trying for and what is "normal..."

ok,, so don't let the ammonia get to high or it will inhibit the cycling process.. 2ppm is fine..
it took my system (started in the spring outside in northeast ohio) about 6 weeks, to get to where i could "dose" with ammonia to 1ppm, and the next day both ammonia and nitrites were 0.. it was pretty chilly at night so that might be a little longer than some, but 6 weeks is pretty common..
careful with water changes if your water is chlorinated, since it can kill bacteria..
high ph is good during cycling, the only "adjustment" i've ever made, was when my ph dropped to below 6.5 after about 8 or 9 months of running at high 7's/low 8's, so i started buffering first with shellgrit, then hydrated lime which acts much quicker than shell grit..

okay...good to know. keep Ammonia low.

and when I my system is happy, then the bacteria are going to keep the ammonia/nitrites converted to nitrates within a day. also good to know.

no chlorine so I am good there. my ph is 6.5-ish now, with shellgrit deployed already. is that a problem?


I guess what I was hoping for was: "here is a log of what your values will most likely do by week"-ish (LOL...knowing that it could get spread out if my temp is not ideal or ph is not ideal) and maybe some values for the spikes that I should look out for and do a water change if mine get above.

ph is fine, if a little low for cycling, but overall good for your system,,, you may need to deploy more shellgrit if it drops any more
from what i observed, no definitive timelinel - spikes.. yeah, they'll happen, first ammonia.. a little while later nitrites.. then ammonia will go down, while that's happening you might notice nitrates starting to show up.. then nitrites will go down.. it took what seemed like the longes time for nitrates to show up, but in all it was about a 6 week dealio..lots of sitting on your hands waitng for seeds to sprout (you have planted seed,,, right?)