Fishless Cycle!

[djl08]

Hi all, i set my tank up back on thursday. I let it settle for a few days and started my fishless cycle on saturday.

My tap water stats are as follows;

Ph - 7.2
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 0ppm

Now i used the ammonia calculator and for my 160L tank found that 8ml would bring the ammonia up to 4pm. But when i tested it, it appeared to be somewhere between 4 and 6 ppm. I forgot to take into account the water displacement due to the gravel (around 2 inches or so). My tank dimensions are as follows;

100 x 40 x 50 cm.

i tested the water again today and found that the Ph had risen to 7.8 and the ammonia hadnt moved and was still at between 4 and 6 ppm.

Could someone advise me as to what to do please?

Cheers,

Dan

 

[tom_os]

just carry on, the ammonia will go, next time just add a little less

 

[waterdrop]

agree, sounds fine

 

[fca1963]

It takes from 2 to 6 months to complete the cicle .
Also you'll see micro plants appearing on the gravel and the inner walls ....Like little hairs.....and that's a visual sign of complete cicle tank

 

[waterdrop]

It takes from 2 to 6 months to complete the cicle .
Also you'll see micro plants appearing on the gravel and the inner walls ....Like little hairs.....and that's a visual sign of complete cicle tank

That is one heck of a beautiful tail on that guppy!

Its true that you do hear some tails of woe regarding fishless cycles, but I'd say on average a fishless cycle takes as few as 3 weeks up to as long as 6 weeks, with various common problems stretching that to 2 months pretty regularly. If it took a lot longer than 2 months then there would have had to have been some extra circumstance or a problem missed I would think.

Small plants like little hairs sounds like a description of a particular type of algae. Algae is not a result of cycling. Algae spores are pretty much universally present in natural situations. The presence of ammonia can trigger the spore forms of algae to become active, but the algae will need light and excess plant nutrients (present for instance in situations where the water column has some but not all fertilizers and/or there is not enough plant volume or growth to use up the extra nutrients.)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[djl08]

hmm, well its been 5 days now and still no change in ammonia levels. Ive increased the water temp to 27/81 degrees but still nothing. Im getting a bit concerned as the filter i have is second hand, it came with the tank which is an ex display model, apparently only 3 months old. ive noticed that there is a build up of yellow 'gunk' around the flow adjust which is just below water outlet, picture of the filter in link below.

http/www.ukpetsupplies.com/images/produc...ics/2204_lg.jpg

its as if the water is being sucked in at this point rather than the bottom, and through the filter media.

any input is appreciated,

dan.

 

[arobinson1984]

I think you're just being a bit impatient

It can take around 14-16 days before the ammonia starts to drop and nitrItes start to build. Just sit back and relax and let nature take its course. Use the waiting time to plan stocking levels, decorations etc.

I wouldn't worry about the 'gunk' at the min, wierd things can appear during fishless cycle that will normally disappear when the tank is cycled.

Andy

 

[djl08]

Ok, im picking up some mature filter media from one of the member on here (spesh) later on so hopefully that will speed things up somewhat.


-Dan-

 

[gaz gun man]

when you get the mature filter media just crack on with the fishless cycle as usual and the bacteria will colonise the rest of your media

 

[djl08]

Well, added the mature media that i picked up from spesh ( thanks again for that). Managed to cram it all into my internal filter (in between the two pieces of foam).

I was thinking of getting an air stone and a few plants today.

What is needed to care for live plants and what plants should i get?

Is it recommended for a beginer?

cheers,

-Dan-

 

[djl08]

just bought am air pump and air stone, will install when i get a chance.
Was on the verge of buying a few plants but wanted to find out the pros and cons of live plants in a new tank.

Can someone enlighten me?

Dan

 

[gaz gun man]

read up on the different plants, as some are alot harder to grow than others.