Fishless cycling

[IdoA]

It's the gasses dissolved in the tap water coming out of solution. Cold water can hold more dissolved gas than warm water so when we use cold tap water then warm it in the tank, the excess gasses have to go somewhere so bubbles form on the surfaces. They'll gradually float to the surface and burst.

Oh alright! Thanks!

By the way another question I have is about heater...
Is 50W enough for a 10 galoon?

 

[Essjay]

The usual quote is 1 watt per litre. 10 gallons is roughly 40 litres, so 50 watts is OK.
However, smaller heaters do have a tendency to stop working sooner than larger heaters so if/when it needs replacing go for 100 watts as it would be likely to last longer.

 

[IdoA]

The usual quote is 1 watt per litre. 10 gallons is roughly 40 litres, so 50 watts is OK.
However, smaller heaters do have a tendency to stop working sooner than larger heaters so if/when it needs replacing go for 100 watts as it would be likely to last longer.

I see thanks!
Also.. should this part (output of the Atman F101 filter) be below the water level or above?
Cause the splash noise is quite a struggle..

 

[Essjay]

I can't find anything in English about this filter. But looking at the image I can't see why it can't be positioned so that the outflow is just under the water surface.

 

[IdoA]

I can't find anything in English about this filter. But looking at the image I can't see why it can't be positioned so that the outflow is just under the water surface.

I have put it under the water...
The design looks like it should be above the water level..
I hope the filtration is working fine.. there are no bubbles in the water that comes out of the filter when its inside the water

 

[Essjay]

All the filters I've ever had where placed so the water came out just below the surface. Bubbles aren't necessary from a filter, they just shoot along the surface with the water coming out of the filter. The filter is working if water is being sucked in at the bottom and pushed out at the top.

 

[IdoA]

Thanks for your help,
Its been a day since I added dr tim ammonia and bacteria and here are the results...
Cant decide what shade green it really is on the ammonia...
Do you think its around 2 ppm? Or more?

 

[Essjay]

Because every screen is different, you need to hold the tube against the white part of the colour chart next to the ammonia colours to compare them.

 

[IdoA]

Because every screen is different, you need to hold the tube against the white part of the colour chart next to the ammonia colours to compare them.

After doing that I believe it's somewhere between 1 and 2ppm.. Just to let you know I added an exact amount of the bacteria bottle. (7.5 ml because I had 30 galoons of water after adding the gravel).
Now I see on the web you need to pour the entire bacteria bottle in..?
I hope I didn't do anything wrong..

 

[Essjay]

Bottled bacteria products are just about the only thing it's safe to overdose. You can either add what the pack says, or add the whole lot. If there's likely to be a lot left over if you follow the instructions you may as well add more than the instructions say so it's all used.

Don't forget that no bottled bacteria cycles a tank instantly; the best take a week or two, the worst do nothing so it'll take several weeks.

 

[IdoA]

Bottled bacteria products are just about the only thing it's safe to overdose. You can either add what the pack says, or add the whole lot. If there's likely to be a lot left over if you follow the instructions you may as well add more than the instructions say so it's all used.

Don't forget that no bottled bacteria cycles a tank instantly; the best take a week or two, the worst do nothing so it'll take several weeks.

So what should I do now after I already added the exact amount and the amonnia?

Wait or just add more?

 

[Essjay]

Do instructions say to add just one dose, or a few doses on different days?
If it's just one dose, I would add the rest of the bottle today.
If it's several doses on different days, add the dose for each day except the last, and on the last dose, empty everything left in the bottle.

 

[IdoA]

Do instructions say to add just one dose, or a few doses on different days?
If it's just one dose, I would add the rest of the bottle today.
If it's several doses on different days, add the dose for each day except the last, and on the last dose, empty everything left in the bottle.

I added all of the bacteria.

Day 4 the ammonia is still 2ppm but no nitrites or nitrates

It doesn't seem to be doing anything..
But today the water looked a bit yellow and look whats on the filter and the gravel!
Why is it happening could it be the rock?

 

[Essjay]

Do you have the tank lights switched on? It looks like diatoms and having the light on during cycling will encourage it to grow. If there are no live plants, the lights should be left off during cycling.

It took 21 days for ammonia to drop and nitrite to show up when I last did a fishless cycle. I didn't use any bacterial starter though. But not all bacterial starters work, and those which are known to can be damaged if the bottle has got too hot or too cold at any time since it left the factory.

 

[IdoA]

I have no love plants as of yet and no light.
What are the brown stuff all over everything?

Do you have the tank lights switched on? It looks like diatoms and having the light on during cycling will encourage it to grow. If there are no live plants, the lights should be left off during cycling.

It took 21 days for ammonia to drop and nitrite to show up when I last did a fishless cycle. I didn't use any bacterial starter though. But not all bacterial starters work, and those which are known to can be damaged if the bottle has got too hot or too cold at any time since it left the factory.