60 Litre 'fishless' Cycle Log

[jts123]

Hi all,

Thought I'd share my 'Fishless' Cycle with you. (I will make on-going updates & edits to THIS post, as time goes on).
As this is my first attempt at fishkeeping for myself, trust you will please bare this in mind if I apprear to be making any 'classic newbie' mistakes during this process.

Without any Ammonia readily available at DAY 1 I thought I would start things off via the 'Fish Food' method and see how it goes for now, as I have read that some people have successfully cycled using 'food' as a means to start the good bacteria growth with.


TANK SPECS:
SIZE: 60 Litres (13 UK Gallon) - w60cm x d30cm x h35cm
HEATING: 100W Heater
FILTRATION: Marina S15 'HOB' Filter
SUBSTRATE: Standard & Micro (sand) Gravel mixture
DECOR/ADDITIONS: x1 Resin Plastic Immitation Rock Cave + x1 Small Ornimental Rock

TEST KIT: API MASTER TEST (FRESHWATER LIQUID BOTTLES)

TAP WATER: PH= 7 to 7.2 AMMONIA= 0.25ppm

LOG:
DAY-------- TEMP----- AMMONIA----- NITRITE----- NITRATE----- PH--------- ADDITIONAL NOTES--------------------------------------------------------------
DAY1------- 29c------ 0.25------------ 0.0----------- 5.0------------ 7.2-------- x1 Pinch of Food flakes added.
DAY2------- 30c------ 0.25------------ 0.25--------- 10.0---------- 7.6-------- x1 Pinch of Food Flakes added.
DAY3------- 30c------ 0.50------------ 0.50--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST- x1 Pinch of Food Flakes added.
DAY4------- 30c------ 2.00------------ 0.50--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST- With rise in AMMO decided to add 34ml of 'CYCLE' to speed bacteria build? NO FOOD TODAY.
DAY5------- 30c------ 0.50------------ 0.50--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST- 15ml 'CYCLE' added, plus x1 Pinch of Food Flakes.
DAY6------- 30c------ 0.50------------ 0.50--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST- x1 Pinch of Food Flakes added. 'CYCLE' not added, due to AMMO level drop since 'cycle' added?
DAY7------- 30c------ 4.00------------ 2.50--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Sourced some AMMO. Added required dose (waited 30 mins) then took todays readings.
DAY8------- 30c------ 4.00------------ 2.50--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing addeed or changed, due to non-movement of readings
DAY9------- 30c------ 2.00------------ 3.00--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing addeed or changed, due to non-movement of readings
DAY10----- 30c------ 2.00------------ 4.00--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Starting to see microscopic life moving all over tank.
DAY11----- 30c------ 2.00------------ 4.00--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added. Water very busy with microscopic life
DAY12----- 30c------ 1.50 to 2.00-- 5.00--------- NO TEST----- 7.6--------- Nothing added. (SEE NOTES ON 'DAY 12' Below).
DAY13----- 30c------ 1.50 to 2.00-- 5.00--------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY14----- 30c------ 1.50 to 2.00-- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY15----- 30c------ 1.50 to 2.00-- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Added x1 Pinch of food to boost 'Feeding'. Lots of micro-life.
DAY16----- 30c------ 1.00 to 1.50-- 5.00+-------- 5.0------------ 7.8-------- Nothing added. Glad to see AMMO drop..finally.
DAY17----- 30c------ 1.00---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY18----- 30c------ 1.00---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY19----- 30c------ 1.00---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY20----- 30c------ 1.00---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY21----- 30c------ 1.00---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.
DAY22----- 30c------ 1.00---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added.(Yawwwwn, Bored yet?!)
DAY23----- 30c------ 0.50---------- 5.00+-------- NO TEST----- NO TEST-- Nothing added. HURRAY! Ammo down '.5' more.
DAY24----- 30c------ 4.0------------ 0.50--------- 5.0------------ 8.2---------- Results after 99% WC to help N.rite>N.rate coversion
DAY25----- 30c------ 2.0------------ 2.00--------- NO TEST----- 7.6---------- Nothing added.
DAY26----- 30c------ 1.0------------ 5.00--------- 20.0--------- 7.6---------- Redosed Ammo to approx 4ppm after readings taken.





Your helpful input and suggestions are VERY welcome.

 

[jts123]

DAY 6 I have decided to take the 'Ammonia Dosing' route now, as the 'Fish Food' method looks like it can/will be hit and miss. I CAN NOT find the appropriate Ammonia in local shops/chemist so have ordered a bottle of 'KLEEN OFF' brand ammonia via the internet. Expect to receive it early next week. Until then I will continue to 'fish feed' as normal per day, with regular tests, but will not add any more 'CYCLE' as I suspect it was messing up the expected readings?

Any thoughts or suggestions as yet folks?

 

[Xraymark]

I'm using "kleen off" in my cycle and its working well now on the second attempt.

I would err on the side of caution as I think I over dosed the first time. The fish flakes will help as well.


Good luck and think about what fish you want.



Took about day 20 before ammonia dropped.

 

[jts123]

DAY 7 Actually found some of the 'Kleen Off' Ammonia today (Hurray!). So, using the Ammonium Calculator I found I needed to add 1.8ml to bring the current level upto around 4.00ppm. Added the dose, waited about 30 mins for complete circulation etc, Did the test.. looks pretty much 'bang on' correct.

Nitrites also showing a nice little increase too.

Having already added the previous ammounts of Fish Food I have deciced I probably won't add any more now, and just use AMMO to 'feed' the tank.

Now it's the waiting game for AMMO to drop again.

Cheers for the good luck message Xraymark

 

[waysgoose]

Looks like you're on your way

You've got Nitrites quite early, took over 2 weeks for me.

If your nitrites happen to go off the chart (if the solution turns purple in the bottom of the test tube straight away if you are using the API liquid tests), cut your ammonia back to about 2ppm and work back up to 4ppm over a few days. I worked back up to 4ppm over about a week. I think it gives the Nitrite processing bacteria time to develop, without being overwhelmed.

Other than that it's just a waiting game. Start planning what fish you want in your tank.

I fishless cycled my tank and I really believe it is the way to go. You end up with a filter that can process huge amounts of ammonia, so you can add your total stock of fish in one go.

Happy cycling,

Justin

 

[jts123]

Looks like you're on your way

You've got Nitrites quite early, took over 2 weeks for me.

If your nitrites happen to go off the chart (if the solution turns purple in the bottom of the test tube straight away if you are using the API liquid tests), cut your ammonia back to about 2ppm and work back up to 4ppm over a few days. I worked back up to 4ppm over about a week. I think it gives the Nitrite processing bacteria time to develop, without being overwhelmed.Other than that it's just a waiting game. Start planning what fish you want in your tank.

I fishless cycled my tank and I really believe it is the way to go. You end up with a filter that can process huge amounts of ammonia, so you can add your total stock of fish in one go.

Happy cycling,

Justin

Yeah, cheers Justin.

Totally agree with you on the 'slow increase of AMMO again'.. makes good sense regarding the Nitrites.


Just starting to look a stocking ideas.. the missus has seen some 'Elephant Fish' and has asked if we could put one or more of these in our tank, ....any thoughts folks? and I personally would love 1 or 2 'Khulie Loach' as my dad used to keep them I just love them.

 

[jts123]

DAY 12 With AMMO falling steadily and NITRITES rising nicely (as expected) I fealt it might be just worth taking a PH reading, just to ensure all is well, (no slow downs or potential crashes etc). Turned out to be: 7.6 (borderline higher). So, also did a HIGH PH test which gives a reading of 8.0. Can anyone tell me if this type of dual-reading for PH is the norm? Just puzzled me how this is happening.

 

[jts123]

DAY 16 After several days of nothing much at all happening, I am glad to see a further reducion in AMMO today. (Seemed like it had just frozen for a few days). After yesterdays addition of a very small pinch of food flakes I am now hoping the bacteria/microlife I can see at all depths of the tank will now multiply and start to process the high Nitrites over the coming week or so too.

Well... I suppose its all going ok. S l o w l y but surely?

 

[jts123]

DAY 16 - A DELAYED REALISATION
Hi all, the following has JUST occured to me, after reading a few other 'Fishless Cycle' articles....

If/when I have been getting AMMO readings which are lesser than 4.0ppm, shouldn't I then have redosed the AMMO back upto around 4.0 each time?

Surely this is the case? Which maybe explains why my Nitrites are taking SO long to peak and subsequently fall to the fateful day when I get the 'DOUBLE ZEROS' in both Ammo and Nitrite??

As always... your thoughts and input are more than welcome.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

There are multiple ways to do it. Personally I subscribe to the add and wait method, because ultimately, you want LOWER concentrations of both ammonia and nitrite to make the proper bacteria happy and multiply.


The "add and wait" method involves only dosing ammonia to 4ppm when it reaches zero (or nearly, less than 0.25ppm) at the same time every day. So, if you dose at 7am on Monday, but the ammonia doesn't drop until 7am Friday, that is when you dose back to 4ppm. Continually adding ammonia back to 4ppm will lead to more nitrite and too much nitrite can actually encourage the wrong type of bacteria ultimately. The most important thing for a fishless cycle though, is patience on the part of the aquarist. It will happen, but it won't happen overnight! Stick with it. Use this time to study your water parameters and what type of fish work best in that condition. Trying to mess with your water is generally a bad idea for beginners. It's just harder.

 

[jts123]

There are multiple ways to do it. Personally I subscribe to the add and wait method, because ultimately, you want LOWER concentrations of both ammonia and nitrite to make the proper bacteria happy and multiply.


The "add and wait" method involves only dosing ammonia to 4ppm when it reaches zero (or nearly, less than 0.25ppm) at the same time every day. So, if you dose at 7am on Monday, but the ammonia doesn't drop until 7am Friday, that is when you dose back to 4ppm. Continually adding ammonia back to 4ppm will lead to more nitrite and too much nitrite can actually encourage the wrong type of bacteria ultimately. The most important thing for a fishless cycle though, is patience on the part of the aquarist. It will happen, but it won't happen overnight! Stick with it. Use this time to study your water parameters and what type of fish work best in that condition. Trying to mess with your water is generally a bad idea for beginners. It's just harder.

Wow, excellent explanation there. Thank you.

(Ok.. so as I had earlier concluded.. all IS going well.. just sit, wait and redose Ammo only when very near a 'Nil' reading.)

 

[jts123]

DAY 22 The AMMO has FINALLY dropped to '0.5' for the first time, but the NITRITE shows no sign of dropping below the '5.0' mark (thus off the chart). I have read that a PWC to bring down the Nitrite to a more readable level could well speed-up the final conversion to NitrAtes. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Could it work, or should I simply now raise the AMMO back up to 2-3ppm and wait for both the Ammo and NitrItes to eventually drop to the 'Double Zeros'??

I must admit, this process has had me wondering if I have been doing things wrong on more than one occasion, as I have not found ANY onther 'cycle logs' that have had such a slown drop in AMMO levels. I hope it's just a case of carry on and wait though?

 

[jts123]

DAY 24 After reading on several forums that excessively hight Nitrites could actually slow or stop the cycle, I decided to do a massive water change in efforts to bring the levels down to a 'readable' amount. Once draining the water and replacing with dechlorinated water, I redosed Ammo and got the readings shown for 'Day 24'.

This will hopefully result in my cycle going qicker now, having given the Nitrites a fighing chance to do the conversion to Nitrates.