Fishless Cycle - Results So Far

[Miss Wiggle]

yup that's what i'd advise for the cycle. add your ammonia daily and if every day between now and sunday the ammoni and nitrite get down to 0 in 12 hrs then you're good to go.

sounds like a ncie mix of fish. you'll still have space left in the tank but i think it's good to stock relativley lightly to start off with and then take it from there. getting new fish is one of the best bits of fishkeeping, if you fully stock straight away then you don't get the fun of choosing more fish again!!

I'd leave the otto's for now, they can be a tad delicate when acclimitising so wait a month or two until the tanks a little mroe stable.

 

[waterdrop]

Waiting a month or two on the otos is something I agree with and not only from my reading here on TFF but its one of the few things I remember from experience in the 1960's, otos would just die, for seemingly no reason, if things were not very settled -- but if they didn't, they were nice fish to have.

~~waterdrop~~
ps. agreed on all other counts too, sounds good!

 

[stormy78]

Would 6 or so Corys be ok?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

depends on the species of cory but in general yes. some species like panda's are pretty sensitive and you shouldn't add them just yet, however there's loads of hardy cories out there and if you pick a hardy species then yes that would be fine.

 

[stormy78]

depends on the species of cory but in general yes. some species like panda's are pretty sensitive and you shouldn't add them just yet, however there's loads of hardy cories out there and if you pick a hardy species then yes that would be fine.

That's good to hear! Can you recommend any of the hardier variants so I can do some research (I'm already searching google lol)?

 

[tim1]

I know that Bronze Cories are very hardy and active. I think Skunk Cories are pretty hardy too.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

too many to list, on the whole they are hardy just a few species are fragile. you be best to get a short list of the ones you like which are readily available near you and then we can let you know if any of those are unsuitable.

 

[stormy78]

Day 25 (Wednesday 7th May)

Tested Ammonia at 8.00am
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.00pm
NitrAte: 40
PH: 6.8

It took the Ammonia 14 hours to process and the Nitrites went from 5ppm to 0 overnight.

I raised Ammonia back to between 2.00 and 4.00 ppm.

Tested Ammonia at 7.30pm
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
NitrIte: 1.00ppm
PH: 6.8

Tested Ammonia at 9.00pm
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 1.00ppm
PH: 6.8

Ammonia is definatly processing in 13 hours or less now.

Should I now be adding Ammonia as soon as it drops to 0.00 or should I only be adding Ammonia once a day?

 

[stormy78]

Here are some pics of the new lay out. Any comments welcome!

 

[waterdrop]

Day 25 (Wednesday 7th May)

Tested Ammonia at 8.00am
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.00pm
NitrAte: 40
PH: 6.8

It took the Ammonia 14 hours to process and the Nitrites went from 5ppm to 0 overnight.

I raised Ammonia back to between 2.00 and 4.00 ppm.

Tested Ammonia at 7.30pm
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
NitrIte: 1.00ppm
PH: 6.8

Tested Ammonia at 9.00pm
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 1.00ppm
PH: 6.8

Ammonia is definatly processing in 13 hours or less now.

Should I now be adding Ammonia as soon as it drops to 0.00 or should I only be adding Ammonia once a day?

IMO, it should still be once a day. Since you are almost cycled, it is now time to ease back up to 4ppm or even 5ppm so that during these last days of assuring that it can do it in 10-12 hours, you are also preparing it for any possible fish load (better to be ready for a bigger load than you need.)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[backtotropical]

IMO, it should still be once a day. Since you are almost cycled, it is now time to ease back up to 4ppm or even 5ppm so that during these last days of assuring that it can do it in 10-12 hours, you are also preparing it for any possible fish load (better to be ready for a bigger load than you need.)

Ppphhhheeewww!! I've not been on here for a couple of days and it seems like weeks. So much has happened!

Stormy, I agree with Waterdrop. Start topping up to 5ppm now, but only once per day, and you should try to test 12 hrs later.

For example, make a habit of raising ammonia to 5ppm at 8pm each night, and then test for ammonia and nitrite at 8am each morning. Once you are getting results of 0 for both tests, you are cycled, although i would advise to continue for at least another few days, just to be sure.

It sounds like you are very close. 3 cheers for Stormy.....Hip Hip.........................

Just make sure to keep an eye on your pH too. You don't want a set-back at this stage.



BTT

 

[stormy78]

Thanks BTT and Waterdrop. I will add 5ppm Ammonia now then and daily from now on.I will start testing at 8am each morning and 8pm just before I add the new Ammonia! Fingers crossed!

 

[stormy78]

Ammonia was raised back to 5ppm at 10.40pm 25/05/08

Day 26 (Thursday 8th May)

Tested Ammonia at 8.00am
Ammonia: 2.00ppm
NitrIte: 1.00pm
NitrAte: 40
PH: 6.8

Tested Ammonia at 10.20pm
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
NitrIte: 5.00ppm
NitrAte: 40 >
PH: 6.8

Ammonia is now taking over 24 hours to process after raising it back up to 5ppm from 2-4ppm and NitrIte seems to be rising again. I have not added any ammonia today and will re test at 8am tomorrow then add ammonia if it is down to 0ppm. Does this seem correct?

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Stormy,

Don't worry, that seems fine. Your filter isn't used to processing the 5ppm so it will take longer.

Now you have established colonies of A-Bacs and N-Bacs, they can double in around 24hrs, so it shouldn't take more than a few days for them to be able to process 5ppm in under 12 hrs.

Nearly there!!

Cheers

BTT

edit: beat you to it, Waterdrop!

 

[waterdrop]

wadya think BTT? steady as she goes...