About to give up!

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-12-2009, 01:53 PM

That's right, Nick. Where you live is also a deciding factor. Maybe you can afford more but you live in an apartment, condo, live with your parents or are in college, etc. Maybe you're in business that takes you traveling often. Maybe you have a slew of other animals that also requires needs.

There's tons of stuff I'd love to have but I have to live within my means. I just love the tanks and fish I do have, tho.

I'm on the wrong end of the spectrum here in this forum. Here we have the young who will be making more money (someday) and we have me, who had money but now doesn't nor never will. LOL

**Alfcea** · 02-12-2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by NickFish

The pH doesn't really affect the nitrifying bacteria, however if you get too much CO2 in the aquarium there is a problem there and a low pH, which stands for The Power of Hydrogen. CO2 in aquariums occasionally bonds adds an extra atom of oxygen to form the polyatomic compound carbonate, (CO3)2-, which again bonds with the hydrogen atoms to form the bicarbonate (HCO3)-. As bicarbonate is formed the Power of Hydrogen is reduced, since it forms the new polyatomic compound previously discussed.

It is this bicarbonate that lowers pH and inhibits the nitrogen cycle. Since most of the bacteria are highly aerobic the creation of high CO2 levels and thus lower O2 levels, since the extra O atom leaves to bond with the new compound, will inhibit the nitrogen cycle. Not a low pH. A low pH is simply a by-product of too many (HCO3)- atoms, but is not nessesarily indicative of this. It may have been the case in your particular situation, but not in all of them. If he is running an airstone there is almost no chance the (HCO3)- could ever gain a foothold anyways, thus worrying about pH instead of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia is pointless. Knowing the levels of your polyatomix compounds during a cycle is much more important.

Hmmm.... Sorry Nick, but this is a bit inaccurate...

Actually, what happens is that (dissolved) CO₂ bonds with a molecule of water first, forming carbonic acid according to this equation.

1. CO₂ + H₂O ---> H₂CO₃

Then, this carbonic acid can liberate hydrogen ions, thus decreasing the pH.

2. H₂CO₃ ---> HCO₃^- + H⁺

And I totally agree with you. The pH should not affect the cycle at all.

**Poofaye C.** · 02-12-2009, 02:35 PM

Well, this turned out to be a very interesting thread. See what you started lava?!?!?LOL. Way to hang in there though lava, don't give up and please keep us posted. Can't wait to see your first fishy pics......in a few more months!!!LOL!!!....just kidding!
By the way, grow a pair and tell those nay sayers to get their own hobby if they're not giong to help. You can do it.

**NickFish** · 02-12-2009, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Alfcea

Hmmm.... Sorry Nick, but this is a bit inaccurate...

Actually, what happens is that (dissolved) CO₂ bonds with a molecule of water first, forming carbonic acid according to this equation.

1. CO₂ + H₂O ---> H₂CO₃

Then, this carbonic acid can liberate hydrogen ions, thus decreasing the pH.

2. H₂CO₃ ---> HCO₃^- + H⁺

And I totally agree with you. The pH should not affect the cycle at all.

I guess you're right, must of overlooked that water molecule. With all the ions I often overlook simple molecular compounds. Nothing changes about what I say though, just a mistake in the exact formula. All the effects and after effects I mentioned still stand of course. Times like these when I'm glad I'm getting a degree in biology rather than chemistry.

I'm on the wrong end of the spectrum here in this forum. Here we have the young who will be making more money (someday) and we have me, who had money but now doesn't nor never will. LOL

Don't give up Hobbs! There's always the lottery!.

**lava** · 02-12-2009, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Poofaye C.

Well, this turned out to be a very interesting thread. See what you started lava?!?!?LOL. Way to hang in there though lava, don't give up and please keep us posted. Can't wait to see your first fishy pics......in a few more months!!!LOL!!!....just kidding!
By the way, grow a pair and tell those nay sayers to get their own hobby if they're not giong to help. You can do it.

LOL poofaye, I am doing good so far, everyone's been so encouraging and helpful! LOL and about the fish , I dont think Ill be putting in any after the cycle finishes, I still havent decided what to use for my moss lawn, (for the shrimps to hide in ) so thats the other part that is slowing me down.

NickFish

Don't give up Hobbs! There's always the lottery!. :hmm3grin2orange

LOL man those lotteries are so evil! >_>" and addicting

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-13-2009, 05:05 AM

Lava, after your tank has cycled, you have to be prepared to add fish right away as that bacteria you have struggled so long to grow will die off. If you don't add fish right away, you have to keep giving that tank ammonia from the bottle, at least. Not only do you need ammonia to cycle the tank, you also need ammonia to keep that bacteria living when finished.

Alf's idea of adding the bacteria booster now might just move those nitrites faster for you. You still need to continue adding the ammonia tho.

**lava** · 02-13-2009, 05:13 AM

Shoot HObbs! thanks for reminding me that, I completely forgot! Man I love you guys lol. Btw me and nick have been msging each other about the cycle ,and man his been really helpful guys, (as all of you) I just wish that Nick was here, 3 months ago lol, X_X Thanks to his huge brain, and word of mouth! it got to my think skull, as you all know....im really slow xD

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-13-2009, 05:30 AM

Well, Nick was here 3 months ago but really, it hasn't been that long since you started cycling. It just seems like it! I checked back on your posts just to see and you had that raw shrimp in your tank Jan 1, remember? You hadn't even gotten the ammonia yet plus there was a couple other little glinches in there.

When you think of it, cycling is easy as heck. You add the required amount of ammonia each day until you see nitrites then drop back on the amount of ammonia to half. When it's done, do a large water change. That's it other than turning your heater up and running an airstone, if you have one.

People make it to be a big complicated thing and it's not complicated at all. If you'd have been lucky enough to have a matured filter pad, you could have done all that in about 12 days.