Fishless cycling. Results so far.

[Aqua Andy]

Hi,

Sunday 07/08/2005

Set up tank again from scratch due to excess ph buffer not dissolving.

Monday 08/08/2005

21:00 - 21:30

Ammonia 0.0 ppm
Nitrite 0.0 ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm
ph 7.5

2 pipettes of ammonia solution added

10:30

Ammonia 4.0 ppm

***********************

Tuesday 09/08/2005

21:00 - 21:.30

Ammonia 4.0 ppm
Nitrite 1.0 ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm
ph 7.5

No ammonia solution added

**************************

Wednesday 10/08/2005

19:00 - 19:30

Ammonia 2.0 ppm
Nitrite 2.0 ppm
Nitrate 40 - 80 ppm
ph 7.5

1 pipette of ammonia solution added

***********************

Thursday 11/08/2005

20:00 - 20:30

Ammonia 0.0 ppm (double checked)
Nitrite 2.0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm (double checked)
ph 7.5

1 pipette of ammonia solution added
More Nutrafin Cycle added to hopefully increase the Nitrite processing bacteria populations.

***********************

 

[rdd1952]

That seems extremely fast for nitrite and nitrate to be showing up. Did you use media from an established tank to seed it? Also, the Cycle may nelp you but I have yet to find anyone that had any good results with it. I tried it once but I couldn't tell that it did any good. I had 2 tanks cycling at the same time. I used it on one and not on the other. They cycled almost exactly in the same time. Unless a product like that has been refrigerated constantly, the bacteria die off.

 

[Aqua Andy]

No I didn't add a seed. I have three plants that I bought from my LFS which may have provided a bacteria source? I purchased the tank and set it up originally a week previously to the second attempt. I did start cycling te tank but I foolishly added too much ph buffer which failed to dissolve. I tried a complete water change but the ph buffer still failed to dissolve so I started again from scratch (washing the gravel again etc etc). Maybe some baceria developed in the first week and survived attached to the plants and in the filter media?

How long usually do the nitrite processing bacteria populations develop after the ammonia processing ones?

 

[modernhamlet]

I have to agree, those numbers look suspect.

A couple of questions:
1. What are the 3 plants?
2. What is the lighting on the tank?
3. Have you tested just your tapwater for nitrates? (seems it might be 40)
4. Are you still using the pH buffer?
5. Are you using any other chemicals?

 

[Aqua Andy]

1, 3 plants as per signiture
2. light glo fluroescent tube
3, Will check tomorrow but I suspect quite high
4, Definately not!
5, Only Nutrafin Cycle as described previously. I've run out of the small starter bottle and I don't plan to buy any more due to hopefully completing the fishless cycle.

 

[modernhamlet]

1, 3 plants as per signiture
2. light glo fluroescent tube
3, Will check tomorrow but I suspect quite high
4, Definately not!
5, Only Nutrafin Cycle as described previously. I've run out of the small starter bottle and I don't plan to buy any more due to hopefully completing the fishless cycle.

[snapback]869691[/snapback]​

Sounds like you're on the right track, but I'm just not sure how you could possibly get the readings you did. 3 plants and a single fluorescent tube aren't going to make 40ppm nitrate go away overnight.

I'd honestly chalk that up as an anomaly. The best way to deal with this is to get the ammonia back up to 4ppm, wait a day, and see what readings you get.

Let us know!

BTW, Don't bother with the Cycle. It's rubbish.

 

[Aqua Andy]

Tap water properties:

Nitrate 20 ppm
ph 7.0

Results so far up to date ......

Friday 12/08/2005

21:00 - 21:30

Ammonia 0.0 ppm
Nitrite 2.0 ppm

1 pipette of ammonia solution added

******************

Saturday 13/08/2005

10:00 -10:30

Ammonia 0.0 ppm
Nitrite 2.0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm
ph 7.2

I can't wait for the nitrite to lower. I may ask a lfs for some tank media to increase the nitrite processing bacteria population.

I don't understand the lack of nitrate the plants must be using it?

 

[modernhamlet]

I'm trying to follow exactly what you're doing, so apologies if you're already doing this. Keep adding enough ammonia each day to get it up to 4ppm. My definition of a cycled tank is one that can convert 4ppm of ammonia completely within 24 hours, two days in a row.

And yes, (still wet) filter media would be a boost to towards finishing the cycle. You probably don't need it though. Things are progressing fine.

As far as the nitrates... I dunno. If your LFS is a good one, take them a sample of your tank and tapwater and ask them to test for nitrates. I just can't imagine 2 amazon swords and a cabomba would be THAT good at converting nitrate. Plants are great things though. I encourage them in every tank for chemical (and aesthetic) balance.

Good luck!

 

[Aqua Andy]

Sunday 14/08/2005

22:30 - 23:00

Ammonia 0.0 ppm
Nitrite 1.0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm
ph 7.5

1 pipette of ammonia solution added

23:30

Ammonia 4.0 ppm

**********************

Monday 15/08/2005

12:00 - 12:30

Ammonia 0.0 ppm
Nitrite 2.0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm
ph 7.5

No ammonia solution added to see if this will cause/help the nitrite level to lower

**********************

Tuesday 16/08/2005

10:30 - 11:00

Nitrite 2.0 ppm

9:00 - 9:30

Ammonia 0.0 ppm
Nitriate 2.0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm
ph 7.5

1 pipette of ammonia solution added

******************************

The tank can cycle ammonia from 4.0 ppm to 0.0 ppm in 24 hours but the nitrite level isn't lowering.

Can the nitrite producing bacteria take a longer time to develope a sufficient population?

I'm getting dispondent as the nitrite level doesn't seem to move at all.

Do you think that there are any nitrite processing bacteria in my tank?

I suppose if there were none the nitrite level would be even higher.

 

[rdd1952]

The nitrite takes longer because you are actually adding more nitrite every day. When you add ammonia to keep the bacteria already developed fed, that is transformed in to nitrite. So each day if you raise the ammonia back to 4 ppm, you are getting 4 ppm of nitrite which is adding to what you already had. I would cut back on the amount of ammonia you are adding every day to 2 ppm. That is more than a normal stock of fish will create in a day unless you are going with big waste producers like plecos, oscars or goldfish. It will eventually drop but it takes about 2 to 3 times longer than the ammonia did.

Edit: The one thing that concerns me is that your nitrite isn't climbing (unless that is the highest value on your test kits). You should also be seeing a lot higher levels of nitrate too.

 

[Aqua Andy]

Finally the nitrite level has dropped to 0 ppm and has stayed there for two days running along with the ammonia level so I'm off to source some fish at my lfs's.

I now think the reason for my very low nitrate level is because being a novice and all when I bought my Amazon Sword plants I didnt realise that they were bunched. I removed them from my tank today to remove the growing media that I know realise that you are supposed to remove and my two Amazon Sword plants have become 3 tall small green and one large red and green Amazon Sword plants. Those added to a large bunch of Camboda I think must of accounted for the low nitrate readings.

I have since removed the Camboda as it is too prolific for my samll tank.

I now have a nice row of Amazon Swords planted along the back glass of my tank.

I'll inform you very helpfull people of my first fish purchases and how they are settling in later.


Andy

 

[rdd1952]

You say your ammonia and nitrite have been at zero for 2 days in a row. Have you been adding ammonia during that time? If not, you need to start again right up until the day before you put your fish in. Otherwise, your bacteria will begin to die off from lack of food.

 

[Aqua Andy]

Yeah I've been adding ammonia daily.

 

[rdd1952]

You should be ready for fish then. Fill it up.

 

[modernhamlet]

Congrats on the successful cycle!

You still going with corys and tetras?