timbotoo
New Member
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- Dec 6, 2009
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Like many other newbies, when I discovered the excellent Fishless Cycle posted and pinned by Swim with the Fishes, I think I assumed that mine would follow the same pattern. It didn't.
After 2 weeks there was no change, and then I passed the 3 week point. At this stage I started to get a bit downhearted, but reading other fishless cycles, I found that actually some people were a lot worse off - so I kept the faith. I vowed that should the miracle double zeros occur, (Ammonia and Nitrite back to 0 in 12 hours,) I would post my cycle to inspire others to keep going - to perhaps demonstrate what a more average type of cycle looks like, and to get others to keep the faith as well. And here it is - double zero day was day 36 for me, and here's how it went:
(Tank is an Interpet River Reef RR50 (94litre) set up as Tropical Freshwater. Tap water is average pH of 7.6. Temp set to 28 degrees C. The filtration system is filter balls, coarse foam, biomedia tubes, carbon pack and fine foam. It uses two pumps to create a subsurface flow. I added an extra airblock (not normally present in this tank) and initially ran the lighting during the day (mistake!)
I did the calculation using a 10l bucket which gave me a result of 9ml ammonia to add for this tank (added using a syringe) I checked and double checked and it seemed correct, but subsequently have found that the tank actually reacted the same by adding 5ml. The initial 9 may have slowed things up. Tested religiously ever 12 hours using API test kit. Anyhow here is the log:
Day 1-13 - Always 4ppm Ammonia
(I went through the same worries about matching colour - its all irrelevant - there are only 2 colours to watch for - green and yellow - yellow is good, who cares what shade of green it is, it isn't what you are waiting for!)
Day 14 - Brown algae has started to appear
Day 28 - 1ppm
Day 30 (0800) - 0ppm (At this stage I added another 9ml and confirmed it with a test - way above 5ppm)
Day 30 (2000) - 4+ppm
Day 31 (1800) - 2ppm
Day 32 (0800) - 0ppm (Tried 7ml ammonia - still too high)
Day 32 (2000) - 1ppm (Tested Nitrite - 2ppm)
Day 33 (0600) - 0ppm (Added 5ml - much better)
Day 33 (1800) - 0ppm - first drop within 12 hours - added 5ml. (Nitrite remains at 2ppm)
Day 34 - Ammonia continues to drop to 0 in 12 hours. Nitrite remains at 2ppm Continue to add 5ml ammonia
Day 35 (0800) - Nitrite 1ppm (Add 5ml ammonia)
Day 35 (2200) - Nitrite 0ppm (Add 5ml ammonia)
Day 36 (1000) - Both ammonia and nitrite at 0 - both dropped in 12 hours. (Added 5ml ammonia - tested to confirm - 4ppm reading)
Day 36 (2200) - Both ammonia and nitrite at 0 - both dropped again in 12 hours) (Added 5ml ammonia and double checked reading= 4ppm)
Tomorrow or the next day is tank cleaning day, major water change and then off shopping for a fishy family a day or so after that.
Happy New Year to All!
(Keep the faith)
After 2 weeks there was no change, and then I passed the 3 week point. At this stage I started to get a bit downhearted, but reading other fishless cycles, I found that actually some people were a lot worse off - so I kept the faith. I vowed that should the miracle double zeros occur, (Ammonia and Nitrite back to 0 in 12 hours,) I would post my cycle to inspire others to keep going - to perhaps demonstrate what a more average type of cycle looks like, and to get others to keep the faith as well. And here it is - double zero day was day 36 for me, and here's how it went:
(Tank is an Interpet River Reef RR50 (94litre) set up as Tropical Freshwater. Tap water is average pH of 7.6. Temp set to 28 degrees C. The filtration system is filter balls, coarse foam, biomedia tubes, carbon pack and fine foam. It uses two pumps to create a subsurface flow. I added an extra airblock (not normally present in this tank) and initially ran the lighting during the day (mistake!)
I did the calculation using a 10l bucket which gave me a result of 9ml ammonia to add for this tank (added using a syringe) I checked and double checked and it seemed correct, but subsequently have found that the tank actually reacted the same by adding 5ml. The initial 9 may have slowed things up. Tested religiously ever 12 hours using API test kit. Anyhow here is the log:
Day 1-13 - Always 4ppm Ammonia
(I went through the same worries about matching colour - its all irrelevant - there are only 2 colours to watch for - green and yellow - yellow is good, who cares what shade of green it is, it isn't what you are waiting for!)
Day 14 - Brown algae has started to appear
Day 28 - 1ppm
Day 30 (0800) - 0ppm (At this stage I added another 9ml and confirmed it with a test - way above 5ppm)
Day 30 (2000) - 4+ppm
Day 31 (1800) - 2ppm
Day 32 (0800) - 0ppm (Tried 7ml ammonia - still too high)
Day 32 (2000) - 1ppm (Tested Nitrite - 2ppm)
Day 33 (0600) - 0ppm (Added 5ml - much better)
Day 33 (1800) - 0ppm - first drop within 12 hours - added 5ml. (Nitrite remains at 2ppm)
Day 34 - Ammonia continues to drop to 0 in 12 hours. Nitrite remains at 2ppm Continue to add 5ml ammonia
Day 35 (0800) - Nitrite 1ppm (Add 5ml ammonia)
Day 35 (2200) - Nitrite 0ppm (Add 5ml ammonia)
Day 36 (1000) - Both ammonia and nitrite at 0 - both dropped in 12 hours. (Added 5ml ammonia - tested to confirm - 4ppm reading)
Day 36 (2200) - Both ammonia and nitrite at 0 - both dropped again in 12 hours) (Added 5ml ammonia and double checked reading= 4ppm)
Tomorrow or the next day is tank cleaning day, major water change and then off shopping for a fishy family a day or so after that.
Happy New Year to All!
(Keep the faith)
