Fishless Cycle N00B

[PMS Woody]

Ammonia down to ~1ppm today. Removing the carbon bag may have slowed things down a little but I think it'll pay off in the long run. Especially once I get a chance to add more ceramics and sponge (still have that 20gal tank I repaired that'll need media) I don't even have any fish yet and I think i'm already hooked! Yikes...

The tank is a little greener looking tonight. I think once my ammonia hits 0 I'll do a big water change before I redose. I'm not big on having an incredible hulk theme tank even if there aren't any fish yet.

 

[PMS Woody]

Didn't test yesterday and tested today expecting to see 0 ammonia but its still stuck at 1. Is it normal for the ammonia to hang like that for a while? I thought for sure with the significant drops in the first couple days that it would be at 0 by now.

 

[PMS Woody]

Green water was getting pretty thick and irritating so I did a ~40% water change last night. It cleared up a little bit. You could say its... 40%... better...? *laughtrack*

Tested tonight and all levels are the same (0.5 NH3, 0 NO2, 7.6pH)

The little cnodes in the wet/dry section of the filter LOOK like they've got some bacteria growth going. Much more brown than the white they used to be.

With the empty container underneath the cnode basket any suggestions on what to fill it with to promote the cycle best? With the carbon bag out I feel like I should fill it with something.

PS. Talked to the LFS the other day. Asked about getting any used filter media (offered to pay and everything) and got the blankest stare and response: "Uhh used?.... *dumbfounded* no we don't do anything used *walks away*"

 

[PMS Woody]

Tried out a different LFS today and scored! Picked up some ceramic spheres to fill my other media basket and was donated a handful of mature ceramic. Booyah! Also picked up a Fusion QuietPower 400 air pump so I can get my air stone going.

Ammonia still hangin out at 0.5ppm. Go go gadget mature media...!

 

[Gvilleguy]

Excellent!

 

[PMS Woody]

The algae bloom was getting really bad so did a massive water change (around 75%). Added 7ml of ammonia to get just over 3ppm.

24 hours later looking at 1ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite. The 1st spike has gotta be any day now....!

Started another thread for stocking questions. But looking at pearl gourami, zebra danios and clown killifish.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Nice progress on the ammonia!

 

[PMS Woody]

So much for the idea of the big ammonia jump. Although I know I dosed to 3ppm and I know it read 1ppm the next day. I've now been stuck at 1 for 3 days... Odd?

The mature ceramics look just as brown and 'mature' as they did when I got them but the rest of the new ceramic I put in is as white as day 1. Shouldn't the new ones be getting more... brown? or something? I have no problems being patient when things are changing or happening. But so hard when you see the same results day after day...

 

[Gvilleguy]

I believe it takes quite a few months for ceramic to start looking old, but that doesn't mean it is not getting good bacteria growing on it. Whenever my cycle would stall it would be my ph that crashed to 6, but you said yours was still up there, I think. Is your temp at 84F?

 

[PMS Woody]

pH is holding steady at 7.6. Tank is at ~82F
Will test again when I get home around 5pm (PST)

 

[PMS Woody]

Its been a while... but... NITRITES

 

[Gvilleguy]

Congrats!!!