Fishless Cycling Experts - Help Appreciated!

[KittyKat]

Aye, I was about to say that it looked almost there Fingers crossed, it does that again a few times and then you will be into the qualifying week!

 

[kporteo]

Looks like your nitrite spike went missing the same as mine did!!!
Wonder if some water supplies have massive levels of Nbacs for some reason??

K

 

[keithbrown53]

Aye, I was about to say that it looked almost there Fingers crossed, it does that again a few times and then you will be into the qualifying week!

Hi All

Let's not celebrate too soon!

Latest stats:
17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6

So, some progress from 20-21 Dec, but not on the same level as 19-20 Dec.

I'm not adding any ammonia tonight, as I can't be absolutely sure if the ammonia reading is 2 or 4 (the shades of green are just so similar).

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[keithbrown53]

Aye, I was about to say that it looked almost there Fingers crossed, it does that again a few times and then you will be into the qualifying week!

Hi All

Let's not celebrate too soon!

Latest stats:
17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6

So, some progress from 20-21 Dec, but not on the same level as 19-20 Dec.

I'm not adding any ammonia tonight, as I can't be absolutely sure if the ammonia reading is 2 or 4 (the shades of green are just so similar).

Cheers,

Keith.

We're moving again!

17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6
22/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0
22/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
22/12/2010 Ammonia 4

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[KittyKat]

Going good.. (by the way, you might want to list them as "ammonia, nitrite, nitrate" )

What stock were you thinking of keeping? (This is the fun bit of waiting for the tank to finish cycling!)

 

[keithbrown53]

Going good.. (by the way, you might want to list them as "ammonia, nitrite, nitrate" )

What stock were you thinking of keeping? (This is the fun bit of waiting for the tank to finish cycling!)

Hi there

That's a good question. The tank is a Bi-Ube, and has 35L of water, but a very small surface area at the top, as it's high, but quite narrow.

I know that's going to limit what I can keep.

I suppose I'm going to be limited to 6 or so very small fish. I'm not really interested in shrimp, etc.

Suggestions would be welcome, but as I'm going to be shopping in 2 Garden Centre type places, the breeds would have to be quite mainstream I think.

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[KittyKat]

Ok, here's my suggestion:

* 1m 1f honey gourami (make sure you know how to sex)
* 6 ember tetras OR 6 espei rasboras (NOT harlequin rasboras, make sure you know the difference)

Those are not rare, although might on occasion call for a visit to 2-3 shops before you find healthy specimens. Where are you? Someone might be able to suggest good shops.

I think the Bi-Ube basically has an undergravel filter where the substrate is the filter media?

If you plant the tank with live plants, there may be room for up to 8 ember tetras, but the choice would be yours to make further down the line.

 

[keithbrown53]

Ok, here's my suggestion:

* 1m 1f honey gourami (make sure you know how to sex)
* 6 ember tetras OR 6 espei rasboras (NOT harlequin rasboras, make sure you know the difference)

Those are not rare, although might on occasion call for a visit to 2-3 shops before you find healthy specimens. Where are you? Someone might be able to suggest good shops.

I think the Bi-Ube basically has an undergravel filter where the substrate is the filter media?

If you plant the tank with live plants, there may be room for up to 8 ember tetras, but the choice would be yours to make further down the line.

Hello

I'm in Dunfermline, Fife.

Do you mean 1 male and 1 female honey gourami, as well as the 6 tetras?

The Espei's look particularly nice.

You are right about the way the Bi-Ube works. I think I would have bought a conventional tank had I known better at the time....

My new readings (more progress)!

17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6
21/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0
21/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
21/12/2010 Ammonia 4
23/12/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40-80
23/12/2010 Accidentally added too much ammonia. Test beyond 8ppm ammonia.
23/12/2010 Performed water change to bring down ammonia.
23/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4.

Cheers for now,

Keith.

 

[keithbrown53]

Ok, here's my suggestion:

* 1m 1f honey gourami (make sure you know how to sex)
* 6 ember tetras OR 6 espei rasboras (NOT harlequin rasboras, make sure you know the difference)

Those are not rare, although might on occasion call for a visit to 2-3 shops before you find healthy specimens. Where are you? Someone might be able to suggest good shops.

I think the Bi-Ube basically has an undergravel filter where the substrate is the filter media?

If you plant the tank with live plants, there may be room for up to 8 ember tetras, but the choice would be yours to make further down the line.

Hello

I'm in Dunfermline, Fife.

Do you mean 1 male and 1 female honey gourami, as well as the 6 tetras?

The Espei's look particularly nice.

You are right about the way the Bi-Ube works. I think I would have bought a conventional tank had I known better at the time....

My new readings (more progress)!

17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6
21/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0
21/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
21/12/2010 Ammonia 4
23/12/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40-80
23/12/2010 Accidentally added too much ammonia. Test beyond 8ppm ammonia.
23/12/2010 Performed water change to bring down ammonia.
23/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4.

Cheers for now,

Keith.

Hello

17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6
21/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0
21/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
21/12/2010 Ammonia 4
23/12/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40-80
23/12/2010 Accidentally added too much ammonia. Test beyond 8ppm ammonia.
23/12/2010 Performed water change to bring down ammonia.
23/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4.
24/12/2010 Added 1 drop ammonia
24/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Hi keith, good going. personaly I would stop testing for Nitrates & save the reagent.

Ammonia & Nitrites are the two most important tests so concentrate on those.

 

[OldMan47]

I have just read through this thread and find that Kitty Kat has you following the dose daily approach to cycling. The dose and wait method works just as well, but both give the same end result so it is no harm done. With a dose and wait approach, you dose and wait until the ammonia is gone, then dose again to get back to 5 ppm. It is the method more commonly followed on this particular forum. Either way, the bacteria get plenty of ammonia to work with and you end up with a fully cycled filter in 6 to 8 weeks typically. You did the right thing dropping your ammonia down when you found it above 8 ppm. Above 8 ppm, the wrong bacteria will tend to dominate your ammonia processing bacterial culture.
As you have said, a biube is best suited to a light stocking level. My personal favorites among small fish are the Heterandria formosa, a tiny livebearer, and the pygmy sized cories. Pygmy cories include C pygmaeus, C hastatus and C habrosus. The habrosus look most like what people think of as cories but never grow much more than an inch long. As a livebearer specialist, I also find golden teddies and black chins to be suitable tiny fish for a small tank. This is a group of black chins feeding from a BBS continuous feeder. It is an old picture because that feeder was more trouble than it was worth for a group of adult fish. It was great for newborn fry though. The black chin is named for the black color that runs all the way from the fish's chin to the end of its anal fin, which is called a gonopodium in a livebearer male.

This is an adult Heterandria formosa male, at almost 2 cm long

A picture of one of my golden teddy males who is about an inch, 2.5 cm, long.

and a female teddy who is slightly larger

 

[keithbrown53]

I have just read through this thread and find that Kitty Kat has you following the dose daily approach to cycling.

Hi All

Thanks to all for your continuing information.

Latest Figures below (oh my, posting on Christmas Day....shoot me now)

17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6
21/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0
21/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
21/12/2010 Ammonia 4
23/12/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40-80
23/12/2010 Accidentally added too much ammonia. Test beyond 8ppm ammonia.
23/12/2010 Performed water change to bring down ammonia.
23/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4.
24/12/2010 Added 1 drop ammonia
24/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40.
25/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40.
25/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
25/12/2010 Ammonia 4

All the very best.

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[KittyKat]

I have just read through this thread and find that Kitty Kat has you following the dose daily approach to cycling. The dose and wait method works just as well, but both give the same end result so it is no harm done. With a dose and wait approach, you dose and wait until the ammonia is gone, then dose again to get back to 5 ppm. It is the method more commonly followed on this particular forum. Either way, the bacteria get plenty of ammonia to work with and you end up with a fully cycled filter in 6 to 8 weeks typically. You did the right thing dropping your ammonia down when you found it above 8 ppm. Above 8 ppm, the wrong bacteria will tend to dominate your ammonia processing bacterial culture.

My reasoning for this approach in this case was that we are about to enter the qualifying week (I think) and it would help to be used to daily dosing for that..

I am also a fan of small and dwarf livebearers and have had great experience with blackchins (Girardinus metallicus) and Neoheterandria elegans, but neither is readily available..

 

[keithbrown53]

I have just read through this thread and find that Kitty Kat has you following the dose daily approach to cycling. The dose and wait method works just as well, but both give the same end result so it is no harm done. With a dose and wait approach, you dose and wait until the ammonia is gone, then dose again to get back to 5 ppm. It is the method more commonly followed on this particular forum. Either way, the bacteria get plenty of ammonia to work with and you end up with a fully cycled filter in 6 to 8 weeks typically. You did the right thing dropping your ammonia down when you found it above 8 ppm. Above 8 ppm, the wrong bacteria will tend to dominate your ammonia processing bacterial culture.

My reasoning for this approach in this case was that we are about to enter the qualifying week (I think) and it would help to be used to daily dosing for that..

I am also a fan of small and dwarf livebearers and have had great experience with blackchins (Girardinus metallicus) and Neoheterandria elegans, but neither is readily available..

Hi there

Latest numbers below:

17/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0.
18/12/2010 Added 2 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 2, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
19/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
19/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Ph 7.6
20/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrate 40, Nitrite 0
20/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
20/12/2010 Ammonia 4
21/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0, Ph 7.6
21/12/2010 Ammonia 1, Nitrate 40-80, Nitrite 0
21/12/2010 Added 3 drops ammonia
21/12/2010 Ammonia 4
23/12/2010 Ammonia .5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40-80
23/12/2010 Accidentally added too much ammonia. Test beyond 8ppm ammonia.
23/12/2010 Performed water change to bring down ammonia.
23/12/2010 Ammonia 2 - 4.
24/12/2010 Added 1 drop ammonia
24/12/2010 Ammonia 4, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40.
25/12/2010 Ammonia 0.5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40.
25/12/2010 Added 5 drops ammonia
25/12/2010 Ammonia 4
26/12/2010 Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40
26/12/2010 Added 9 drops ammonia
26/12/2010 Ammonia between 4 and 8.

I have deliberately overdosed the ammonia slightly, as we are away now for a couple of days, and I won;t be able to dose the tank.

All the best,

Keith.

 

[KittyKat]

Have a good holiday, fingers crossed for qualifying week after you come back!