Doggiebags 2nd Fishless Cycle, With Help.....using Seachem Stability

[doggiebag]

Okay, fishless cycling a second tank, this time will be adding some Seachem Stability, just as a test as I have it sittign here anyway and want to compare it to my other fishless cycle which is gling at a slow pace with no help.......link to that thread here........Doggiebags First Fishless Cycle- Juwel Rekord 63 litre

Hexagon 21 litre tank, elite 25w heater and trickle filter that came with tank. API Master Test Kit, Homebase ammonia 9.5%, Tetra Pond Aqua Safe dechlorinator, roman gravel, 2 moss balls, mopani wood, silk plant and java moss on stone, terracotta half plant pot. Tank intended for cherry shrimp one completed......


Day 0: 28/08/09: Set tank up,......temp at 28C,
Ph 8.0, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, these are the base readings from 24 hours in tank, nothing but dechlorinator added........added first full dose of stability, 7 further does required at half strength

Day 1: 29/08/09: Ammonia added 9am, ammonia 4-5ppm, added 1st half dose of stability, no readings taken

Day 2: 30/08/09: Ph 8.0, Ammonia 4.0, added 2nd half dose of stability

Day 3: 31/08/09: Ammonia 4.0, added 3rd half dose of stability

Day 4: 01/09/09: Ammonia 2.0, added 4th half dose of stability, something happening......

Day 5: 02/09/09: Ph 8.0, Ammonia 1.0, nitrites 5+ (drops purple) added 5th half dose of stability, it's deffo dropping and processing now......

Day 6: 03/09/09: Ammonia 0, nitrites 5+ (drops purple) added 4th half dose of stability, added 2ppm ammonia back in. This does seem to show stability has quickened it, my other tank took 16 days to drop.....

Day 7: 04/09/09: Ph 8.0, Ammonia 0, nitrites 5+ (drops purple) added 5th half dose of stability, added 2ppm ammonia back in.

Day 8: 05/09/09: Ammonia 0, nitrites 5+ (drops purple) added 6th half dose of stability, added 2ppm ammonia back in.

Day 9: 06/09/09: Ammonia 0, nitrites 5+ (drops purple) added 7th half dose of stability, final dose, added 2ppm ammonia back in.

Day 10: 07/09/09: Ammonia 0, nitrites 5+ (drops purple), added 2ppm ammonia back in.

Day 11: 08/09/09: Ammonia 0, nitrites 1.0 (drops now light blue), added 2ppm ammonia back in.

Day 12: 09/09/09: Ammonia 0, nitrites 0 , added 4ppm ammonia back in. okay, this is pretty good going. The stability has definitely speeded the process up, my other tank took 16 days for ammonia to drop and the nitrites are still spiking at day 31.......this is only 12 days in and nitrite spike over.......there may be something in this.....

Day 13: 10/09/09:
AM TEST ammonia 0, nitrite 0. So it can now process the upped ammonia in 24 hours......have added 4-5ppm ammonia and will begin 12 hour testing........
PM TEST: ph 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 5, nitrate 80-160, ammonia processing in 12 hours, nitrite playing catch up

Day 14: 11/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, did an 80% waterchange as nitrates are high, added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0.25, nitrite 1 or 5 seems the waterchange caused a small blip in ammonia, expect this to rectify in a day or so.....

Day 15: 12/09/09:
AM TEST: ph 8.0, ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25, nitrates 40-80 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1 or 5

Day 16: 14/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.75

Day 17: 15/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1

Day 18: 16/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1

Day 19: 17/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1

nitrite sticking at 1 in 12 hours, same as my other fishless cycle

Day 20: 18/09/09:
AM TEST: ph 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 at last we have 0's at 12 hours !!!!

what do I do now? is this where I do the qualifying week?

Day 21: 19/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.50

Day 22: 20/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.50

Day 23: 21/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 24: 22/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.00

Day 25: 23/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, 90% waterchange, added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 26: 24/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 27: 25/09/09:
AM TEST: ph 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 28: 26/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 29: 27/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 30: 28/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0

Day 31: 29/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4 ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 32: 30/09/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0 this is getting annoying now, one day 0 the next 1 arrggghhhh, tested at 14 hours 0.25 nitrite

Day 33: 01/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 34: 02/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.50

Day 35: 03/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 36: 04/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0

Day 37: 05/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 38: 06/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 39: 07/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 40: 08/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.50

Day 41: 09/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 42: 10/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 43: 11/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0

Day 44: 12/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 45: 13/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25

Day 46: 14/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 47: 15/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 48: 16/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 49: 17/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 50: 18/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 51: 19/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Day 52: 20/10/09:
AM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0, added 4ppm ammonia
PM TEST:ammonia 0, nitrite 0.10

Happy to call this one complete, the blue is only a tad darker than the 0 reading on the API kit. Just wish the other cycle would hurry up....

edited to add: tested tonight and this was went to 0.25 nitrite !! very odd as this one has been stable for ages. I feel like chucking both tanks out the window at present, they are seriously testing my patience now.

 

[darenshan54]

alot of people diss these products, but they do work to some extent....

 

[doggiebag]

I know, I must admit I do think most are rubbish in a bottle,but this does seem to be speeding the process. Not an instant cycle by any means, but a great kick start. I have also tried Tetra Safstart to boost a struggling cycle and that did the trick too..........this one didn't do anything to help a lagging cycle but seems to boost one from scratch.
My all natural fishless cycle took 16 days for ammonia and 31 days and counting for nitrites, this one was 5 days and 12 days......huge difference.....

Im not advocating the product one way or another,but just thought it would be an interesting comparison as I had 2 tanks to cycle at the same time......quite surprised by the results too

 

[bob9009]

I'd like to see someone do a proper test (several tanks the same size, using the same source of water and seeded media) to determine if these products really work. I've seen a lot of people saying they are 'snake oil', but also several accounts (like yours) where they seem to have helped.

 

[tropic_john]

The smaller tank will have been quicker due to it being smaller, so the tanks filter doesn't need to start such a big bact. colony, though the seachem might have worked.

 

[doggiebag]

I agree the size may be a big factor, though my fish-in took 70+ days to complete in a similar size tank. Im not fussed either way, just thought it was a good experiment as I had the stuff lying around doing nothing and a spare tank to cycle lol

Anyway results for today, after upping ammonia....

Day 13: 10/09/09: AM TEST ammonia 0, nitrite 0. So it can process the upped ammonia in 24 hours......have added 4-5ppm ammonia and will begin 12 hour testing........

good news on my other fishless cycle, this has finally got nitrite at 0 after 32 days !!!! I am so happy to see this one drop at last, great feeling when it happens......

 

[doggiebag]

Day 13: 10/09/09:
PM TEST: ph 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 5, nitrate 80-160, ammonia processing in 12 hours, nitrite playing catch up

Day 14: 11/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, did an 80% waterchange as nitrates are high, added 4-5ppm ammonia

 

[doggiebag]

Day 14 continued......
PM TEST: ammonia 0.25, nitrite 1 or 5 seems the waterchange caused a small blip in ammonia, expect this to rectify in a day or so.....

Day 15: 12/09/09:
AM TEST: ph 8.0, ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25, nitrates 40-80 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1 or 5

Day 16: 14/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0.75

Day 17: 15/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia

 

[doggiebag]

Day 17 continued....
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1

Day 18: 16/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1

Day 19: 17/09/09:
AM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 4-5ppm ammonia
PM TEST: ammonia 0, nitrite 1

nitrite sticking at 1 in 12 hours, same as my other fishless cycle

 

[waterdrop]

This tank does seem to have reached this point sooner than your other one. Its not even reached the 3 weeks time yet that we often quote as the beginning of the range of time we see fishless cycles take.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[doggiebag]

I agree, I feel the stability did give it a head start, but its not the instant cycle claimed, but still is useful to speed the process

 

[waterdrop]

This particular instance would seem to put it not too far behind mature media. -wd-

 

[OldMan47]

WD, that cycle is about 2 weeks behind a mature media dosing. I use a mature media approach and have never seen a full cycle take a whole week using the "OM" method.

 

[waterdrop]

Cmon OM, I was trying to be gentle on him now you've blown it

 

[OldMan47]

Day 19 in the middle of trouble bringing down nitrites looks like lots of other cycles that we have followed, WD. Why say things that only encourage self delusion on the effectiveness of his new favorite product.