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I started my 55 gallon tank about a month ago - filled it, ran the filters and heaters for about two weeks, and then I added 6 long-tail danios to begin the cycling process.

My ammonia started to rise about a week ago - started at 0.25 ppm, then held steady at 0.50 for a few days, now it's up to 4.0. Everything else was relatively stable, but today's reading (along with the 4.0 ammonia reading) showed a Ph of 8.0, up from 7.4-7.6.

I made no other changes to the tank (although I dropped the temp from 80F to 77F); the fish seem happy with no visible problems.

Is this spike in Ph normal?

Hi,
Welcome to Fish Profiles!
With the ammonia reading of 4 it sounds like your tank
is in the first stages of the Nitrogen Cycle. It can climb
to 6 before it starts to drop off as the nitrite starts to
show up.

Keep an eye on the fish. As long as they are acting
normally and eating normally, don't do anything.
Should they stop eating, and start gasping then you will
need to do a 20-30% water change. But, that should not
happen.

As far as the pH peaking at 8, that may or may not be the
water from the city, or it could be from your gravel and
any rocks you might have in the tank. Draw a clean glass
full of water and allow it to stand for 24 hours (with no
pets drinking from it) and then test the pH of that water.
Frequently, as the water degases, the pH will rise.
Also any carbonate rocks such as limestone, dolomite, or
shells can cause the pH to rise toward 8.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

For the future leaving tanks sit with no fish, fish food, or other ammonia source does nothing but test that the equipment is running. Usually just setting a tank up 24hours before your going to add fish so the water degasses and is brought up to temp is plenty. Any longer does no good. Tanks don't cycle without an ammonia source so technically your tank isn't a month old. The cycle started when you added fish not when you setup the tank. Your right in the middle of the cycle and will probably see a bit more ammonia before the nitrites start to climb. At 4ppm ammonia I would do at least a small waterchange. The fish are going to suffer permanent injury if it doesn't go down soon. I try to keep mine at least below 2ppm and usually 1ppm if I have to cycle with fish.

The ph is likely an entirely seperate problem. Test your tapwater and see if the ph is high before it even reached the tank. 2nd did you test the ph any time after setting up the tank or is this the first time. The ph often changes in the first 24hours after water sits and especially if it's aerated with any water movement. My tapwater goes from 6.8-7 out of tap up to 8.2-8.4 after sitting 12-24hours. If that's not it then you probably have some decoration or something in the substate causing the increase.

Thanks for the replies. I started testing the pH about 13 days ago. It was constant at 7.4; the water (and gravel, filter, heater, decorations, plants, and aeration) had been in the tank about 10 days. It just spiked yesterday, concurrent with the ammonia spike.

I ran the tank "empty" because I was on vacation for a week; I wanted the temp to stabilize and be ready for the first fish when I returned.

To go along with what frank was saying. If your tank is in the first stage of the Cycling process you will see the ammonia drop to 0 and the NitrITes spike. Once the Nitrites spike and the NitrATEs come up then your tank will be cycled. I would suggest testing every other day to once every three days to watch the Ammonia and NitrItes. If the ammonia gets above 1.5ppm then i would suggest a 25% water change. Same with Nitrites. That way you keep the water healthy. Remember when you clean your tank. Clean the filter once a month in some of the old tank water. Split the tank into 4 sections and clean one section a week and only change 30% of your water. HTH. Let us know how the cycling is going..

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html

For whatever reason, the pH is has now dropped into the 7.4-7.6 range. I did a 20% or so water change (after the pH readings); now the ammonia is down, nitrites are spiking, and nitrates are rising. I think the tank is moving along well.

Thanks for all your help

Great to hear your cycle is moving along well

Keep us posted on how it goes, keep checking on the fish and testing once a day at least.

^_^