First Tank

[the_lock_man]

Also, tested my tap water and it appears the pH of it is between 6 and 7, is this normal?

Added ammonia at 11am, will test water tonight at 11pm and note any readings. Temperature on the heater is set to 26, but thermometer is reading 29.

It's a normal pH, yes. But I believe a higher pH of around 8.0 encourages bacterial growth. You can use bicarbonate of soda to artifically raise your pH whilst cycling. At the end of the cycle, you do a massive (90%+) waterchange, which gets rid of the bicarb, and leaves you with your natural pH.

 

[Comacchio]

Since adding the ammonia on friday morning at 11am, nothing seems to have changed. Ammonia levels still appear to be around the 5ppm mark (Hard to tell with the liquid to paper comparison). No nitrite or nitrate, pH of around 7 now.

I was wondering if perhaps my aeration wasnt enough and this was hindering the bacterial growth? I've got a 200L tank with a surface area of 100x40 cm. Im running a fluval 205 external of which the output is positioned 2cm below the water level to provide a current and also a fluval U4 which has 3 settings for the output. During the day I have it on the upper output which agitates the surface water, during the night I have it on the lower output which provides mid level current. I also have a small airstone in the middle of the tank. Ideally at night I would like to leave just the airstone and the low level U4 (along with the constant 205 positioning) as the tank is a mere 2 feet from my bed!

Question is, is this adequate aeration? Here are some videos of the setup:

1)
http/flic.kr/p/ahpNHs

2)
http/flic.kr/p/ahnc5v

3)
http/flic.kr/p/ahnkpc

 

[fluttermoth]

Aeration won't affect your cycle; you just need to give it more time

You can't switch your filter off at night; it needs to be on 24/7, except for the short amount of time you're doing tank maintainence.

 

[Rickzayne]

1. is fine might want to lower the filter out tho so its not as noisy.(further down the tank I mean)

you don't need an air stone only if you like how it looks.

 

[Comacchio]

Aeration won't affect your cycle; you just need to give it more time

You can't switch your filter off at night; it needs to be on 24/7, except for the short amount of time you're doing tank maintainence.

Oh no I wouldnt switch the filter off, just the filter output to a different setting. It can be upper, middle or lower.

 

[fluttermoth]

Aeration won't affect your cycle; you just need to give it more time

You can't switch your filter off at night; it needs to be on 24/7, except for the short amount of time you're doing tank maintainence.

Oh no I wouldnt switch the filter off, just the filter output to a different setting. It can be upper, middle or lower.

Oh, I see Sorry, I completely misread that!

 

[Comacchio]

No movement on levels.. So have a pic.


Smells Fishy by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

 

[HayzH]

i was wondering this???
I have the U2 Fluval...and it also has 3 settings..upper (surface agitation) Middle....(current flow) and Lower...(water jet)
Does it matter which setting you have it on for the cycle??

 

[PyroBrit]

I have the U3 with the top middle and bottom jet settings. I always use the top setting so I can get the jet to disturb the water for a nit of aeration.

The bottom jet annoyed my goldfish and I didn't bother with the middle setting.

Top or bottom will give you the greatest flow.

 

[Comacchio]

Exactly 1 week after adding 11ml of ammonia to my 200L tank I tested the water again.

Ammonia levels still appear to be around the 5 ppm mark. My eyes are wanting to see the colour as about 2-3, but after testing for nitrite and it coming up as essentially nill - I've come to the conclusion that theres no change.

I hope to see a change soon!

Edit: The only change is the loss of 8 litres of water through evaporation.

 

[Comacchio]

Is it ok to replace the water thats evaportated (as in it wont affect my ammonia readings much)?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, it's fine; just make sure it's dechlorinated.

 

[Comacchio]

Changes to the tank! Unfortunately after day 9 the ammonia still hasn't dropped Not to worry I'm patient enough to let it go at the speed it wants to.

Found some new rock and slate in a bucket of gravel the seller gave to me (I decided on sand instead of gravel so the bucket just sat there for a while). I decided to re-scape the tank. All thats left to go in now is the bogwood and plants. (Going to go infront of the heater and extend out towards the orange/red stone in the sand)
.

Re-scape by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

Should I be doing much maintenance to the filters during the cycle since theres not too much crap going through? (Cycling with raw ammonia)

 

[fluttermoth]

No, don't touch the filters during a fishless cycle; as you've already worked out, there's no need.

One small point; I'd try and put the heater lower down. Because heat rises in water, same as in air, you could get cold spots on the lower levels of your tank. Also, if you ever want or need to do large water changes, the heater where it is now could end up being exposed to the air, and if it's not switched off (it's easily forgotten, do it myself) or even if it's hot, it could crack or explode

 

[Comacchio]

No, don't touch the filters during a fishless cycle; as you've already worked out, there's no need.

One small point; I'd try and put the heater lower down. Because heat rises in water, same as in air, you could get cold spots on the lower levels of your tank. Also, if you ever want or need to do large water changes, the heater where it is now could end up being exposed to the air, and if it's not switched off (it's easily forgotten, do it myself) or even if it's hot, it could crack or explode

Thanks good advice. I'll get that done next time I feel like getting my arm wet! I suppose that will also make it easier to hide with my (slightly massive) piece of bogwood!