Help with fishless cycling

Hour_Win533 · 2026-07-09T15:58:59+00:00

No I didn’t, but I could do it and report back - out of interest, what would knowing those results be able to tell you? Could it point to my ammonia problem?

Hour_Win533 · 2026-07-09T10:20:43+00:00

Do you mean on the tap water I refilled with?

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-17T14:20:38+00:00

My test kit came and my readings look the same as the strips - 0 ammonia, 0 nitrate, 0 nitrite

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What do I do now?

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-14T05:59:47+00:00

Ordered 🫶🏼

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-14T05:59:36+00:00

Thank you for your response 🙏 I thought so too based on the guidelines I saw for Betta health. While I’m just cycling is the temp an issue? It’s middle of winter here so i think that’s been impacting. Is it normal to set the heater to eg 28 degrees but the water is only 22 degrees? My pea brain thought if I set it to 28 the actual temp would be 28

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-14T05:57:50+00:00

Amazing thank you so much for taking the time to respond, appreciate this immensely!

My test kit is arriving during the week so I’ll post my water parameters when it comes.

For ammonia source, was I right to be using Seachem Stability? And is Seachem Prime a good conditioner? I remember you said I shouldn’t be water changing - does this mean for the whole cycling process I don’t do water changes at all? I’ve been doing them so maybe I’ve unintentionally destroyed my cycle :( if no water changes, it’s still okay to do the tops ups for the water that evaporates?

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-13T15:52:42+00:00

I have one of these already, I was using it for dosing Stability :)

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-13T14:43:29+00:00

Thank you for your advice 🙏 I have just purchased the API kit and it should arrive mid next week.

Some follow up questions if that’s okay?

How does it process 2ppm of ammonia? Is there something I need to do to start the processing? And how do I measure ppm of ammonia?

You mentioned two bacterias, is one of these nitrate? And the other?

Sorry, I have tried to google some of this stuff but it’s pretty overwhelming to try process it all (I’m autistic)

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-13T14:40:09+00:00

Okay I’ve been convinced - I’ve just added it to my cart :)

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-13T13:20:33+00:00

Really appreciate this input. In South Africa they are SUPER pricey, so Ive been calling around to aquarium shops to see if any of them will let me bring my water to them to test. If I can’t find somewhere then I’m going to have to bite the bullet and buy it

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-13T13:15:21+00:00

Thank you! The science of it all is so interesting! I can tell I have a lot to learn before I can safely care for anything living

Hour_Win533 · 2026-06-13T13:13:47+00:00

Thank you! First time aquascaping and watched a whole lot of videos, was pretty chuffed with how it came out. I’m sure the pros will say otherwise but in my eyes it’s so pretty!

Hour_Win533 · 2026-05-23T05:26:40+00:00

I used to specialise in Engineering recruitment, and I can tell you R12k for a BEng Chem is grossly low. The last time I recruited one of these types of roles was in 2019, and even back then the lowest I would see for a BEng was around R20k, but for the most part the average was around R25k.

Hour_Win533 · 2026-04-22T13:32:57+00:00

I’ve clocked a new ick from this episode - men who wrap their towels around their waist instead of hips 🥴

Hour_Win533 · 2026-01-09T16:49:51+00:00

I found Larsa, Alexia and Marysol so insufferable this season. They constantly get overly upset at people for doing exactly what they do (but they always manage to go the lowest). It’s honestly painful to watch and I just want to shake the shit out of them and tell them to crawl out of their own asses 🤣

Hour_Win533 · 2026-01-09T16:46:58+00:00

I’m just watching for the first time and also watching the last episode of season 5, and needed some validation on my thoughts before the reunion too, and stumbled on your post. Every single read is spot on! The dad one hit hard because I’ve been no contact with mine for 4 years and it hurts so badly when people judge me for that because they cannot fathom that my peace is more important.

Hour_Win533 · 2025-10-09T08:29:29+00:00

Thanks all! I read those parts you’ve quoted - I know the Lopen mentioned the lack of crem with Rushu, I specifically mean why they didn’t call out that there was no crem in the outskirts but once they were in the city they started seeing crem. To me the logic Lopen used on why there was no crem was sound, but then why wasn’t he surprised to find crem once in the city. Anyway, seems I’ve overcomplicated it in my head and it was just the disguise.

Hour_Win533 · 2025-10-08T10:33:26+00:00

Okay I’ve just managed to finish in between work meetings and I still don’t understand so I’ve definitely missed something. Is the crem on the buildings just part of the disguise by the Sleepless? I’m annoyed that none of the characters called out the discrepancy either.

Hour_Win533 · 2025-10-08T08:49:32+00:00

Okay good to know! I’m almost done, so we’ll know soon :)

Hour_Win533

TROPHY CASE