Friendlies Cycle Log

friendlyfishy777

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I've chosen to cycle my Fulval Roma 200 tank using the add and wait method mentioned on this forum.

Basic tap water readings:

NITRITE 0 ppm
NITRATE 20 ppm
AMMOINIA 0.25 ppm
PH 7.6

Day 1

Put a small bit of media sponge from my friend's goldfish tank in filter - plus she gave me the water she cleaned the media sponges in (as it was clean out day), I filled up the external filter canister with the dirty water.
Put heater on and up to 30c.
Added dechlorinator (that removes chlorine, chloramine and also heavy metals)
10ml of Homebase Ammonia 9.5
Put on air pump to create lots of bubbles
Tested for Ammonia using API test kit

~ I didn't realise the heater would take a whole 24 hours to reach 28c, and it's still not reached 30c! Are heatings always so slow to heat up?


AMMONIA READING: colour seemed to be between 4.0 and 8.0, so I guessed the reading was around 5 or 6 pm.

Day 2

AMMONIA READING: 4.0

Day 3

AMMONIA READING: 2.0
 
Isn't it dropping to 2.0 on day three a bit fast? Is there anything I should do or should i just be happy about this? :unsure:
Edit: I tested for nitrite and it's currently 1.0
 
That is exceptionally fast, but the mature media from your friend's tank is almost definitely responsible for that, so be happy :)

In regards to the heater, it should be slow, so as not to cause massive, sudden temperature changes for your fish. Once it's up to temp, it shouldn't ever need to raise the temperature significantly like it is now, it just needs to maintain it at a chosen temperature.
 
Thanks!

Oh, I see - now that makes sense about the heater. :)

Day Four

AMMONIA READING: 1.0

Day Five

AMMONIA READING: 0.25

Have now redosed with Ammonia :good:

Taken new reading, back to 5.00 or there abouts on the colour chart, as it's darker than 4.0 but not as dark as 8.00
 
Day Six

AMMONIA READING: 1.0
NITRITE READING: 1:00

Day Seven

AMMONIA READING: 0 ppm
NITRITE READING: 0:25ppm

Redosed Ammonia

Day Eight

AMMONIA: 0:25 ppm
NITRITE: 1.00 ppm

upped Ammonia to 4ppm

Day Nine

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Day Ten

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 25ppm
NITRITE: 25ppm

:D

Redosed...

Day Eleven

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 25ppm

redosed 4ppm

AMMONIA: 25ppm
NITRITE: 25ppm

Day Twelve

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

Day Thirteen

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

Day Fourteen

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm
 
Argh, I think I hate you
sneaky2.gif


Haha, just kidding and mighty jealous of your 14 day cycle! (I'm on day 31 and have only had one double zero the whole time)

You're supposed to do a qualifying week, where you keep going with the redosing and checking you get consistent double zeroes every time, but congrats, looks like it'll only be a few days before you're able to get fish
good.gif
 
Aww, I'm sure you will be there soon *hugs* - thank you so much for the support, x

I have to admit something now - please no one kill me but...

I added the Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Slow Release Bacteria Gell Balls (I mentioned in my first post) at the start of day three and day seven, I added 30 of them to the filter canister (each time), and things seemed to leap from there on, of course combined with being able to get a hold of some dirty filter water. I know many people say similar products are useless (I agree about the bottled ones, certainly) but I saw a dramatic change the moment I used these gell balls - I can only think they do work, at least when combined with everything else - a catalyst, perhaps? I added them as I had spent £7.99 on a big tube and I thought it wouldn't hurt - is they were useless they were useless.

I'd love to know if it was this brand of Aqua Pure Pond balls or simply obtaining some dirty filter water. Maybe others should try and see, if they can afford to waste money to find out that is!
 
You're supposed to do a qualifying week, where you keep going with the redosing and checking you get consistent double zeroes every time, but congrats, looks like it'll only be a few days before you're able to get fish

So i should carry on for maybe another three days or so? Whoo Whoo I really can't wait for my fish buddies to move in. :)
 
Day Fifteen

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

Day Sixteen

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

Day Seventeen

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

Day Eighteen

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm

redosed to 4ppm

Checked 12 hours later and...

AMMONIA: 0ppm
NITRITE: 0ppm


I think I can do the 100% water change today and get ready for fish! :D
 
I’ve had my fish tank running for a week now with fish in. I have three spotted hoplos and seven corydoras (2 regular bronze, 3 albinos, 2 Gold Lasers). All fish seem very happy and healthy, and enjoy playing in the filter steam. I have kept the water level lowered (as it was in the cycle) so the filter head makes bubbles as it hits the glass, and they seem to love it. The tank has sand for the bottom and lots of plants. There is also lots of areas where the water current isn't present for rest. I want to replace the lighting on my roma 200 with dimmer lighting, as even though the corys couldn't seem to care less about the lights the hoplos seem to mind. As when the lights are on I barely see the other two hoplos - one of my three is always out front playing with the corys, however. I'm very much enjoying my fish and look forward to adding some more to the tank this week coming. :)
 
Does the "Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Slow Release Bacteria Gell Balls " really work???

I know one other person used it but no feedback.

It sells in such large volume, would need alot less in aquariums?! How to work out how much?

If i cycle a 2nd tank, wud consider it, maybe?????


ps impressive log results, u must be chuffed :good:
 
I’ve had my fish tank running for a week now with fish in. I have three spotted hoplos and seven corydoras (2 regular bronze, 3 albinos, 2 Gold Lasers). All fish seem very happy and healthy, and enjoy playing in the filter steam. I have kept the water level lowered (as it was in the cycle) so the filter head makes bubbles as it hits the glass, and they seem to love it. The tank has sand for the bottom and lots of plants. There is also lots of areas where the water current isn't present for rest. I want to replace the lighting on my roma 200 with dimmer lighting, as even though the corys couldn't seem to care less about the lights the hoplos seem to mind. As when the lights are on I barely see the other two hoplos - one of my three is always out front playing with the corys, however. I'm very much enjoying my fish and look forward to adding some more to the tank this week coming. :)

Can I ask how your cories are with each other? The reason I ask is that my LFS claims that cories of different types will shoal together, but after asking on this forum folks say it's unlikely.
 
Glad to hear you finally have your Hoplos. My four are the bravest fish I have and will eat bloodworm straight from the defrosting cube inbetween my fingers. :)

The chances are that the 3 Albino Corydoras are also Bronze, but I would add another three to give a better sized group that would show more natural behaviour.

The same could be said of your purchase of two Gold Lasers, they will really do much better in a group of at least six of their own kind, despite how this will hit your bank balance!
 
Can I ask how your cories are with each other? The reason I ask is that my LFS claims that cories of different types will shoal together, but after asking on this forum folks say it's unlikely.

From my limited experience I’d say they certainly might. The regular coloured Bronze are constantly shoaling with the Gold Laser. Though, the way I understand it the Gold Laser are very closely related to the Bronze, some claim they are a variant of the same species – this might be something to do with it. All mine are shoaling together at the front of the glass playing in the bubbles. I find the Albinos tend to spend time swimming separately even from each other (they don't see to want to shoal as much), but they will come and shoal with the rest half the time.

Does the "Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Slow Release Bacteria Gell Balls " really work???

I know one other person used it but no feedback.

It sells in such large volume, would need a lot less in aquariums?! How to work out how much?

If i cycle a 2nd tank, wud consider it, maybe?????


ps impressive log results, u must be chuffed :good:

I am very chuffed! :D

I used the pond gell balls instead of the ones meant for tanks, as the LFS guy said they were better and didn’t need to be kept in the fridge, and more was actually needed than stated so the big tube of pure pond actually worked out to be better vaule. It certainly seemed as if they did work. I have a feeling you might need some good bacteria already, like a small amount of filter media from a mature tank or filter squeezings, then after that’s in there a few days add the Bacteria Gell Balls. That’s how I did it anyway. I certainly think it’s worth trying as my tank cycled pretty fast, and I can only think it was due to the extra help from the gell balls. If you are going to try the gell balls get the same brand, that way we can all tell if they really worked. As diffrent brands might varying in effectiveness. As to how many, I figure as long as there are no fish present you can go a bit mad with the number, as it's not going to risk any fish. I know the ones sold for aquarium use it's 12 balls per 100L of water. But I used a total of 60 pure pond balls over two weeks for my 200L.

Glad to hear you finally have your Hoplos. My four are the bravest fish I have and will eat bloodworm straight from the defrosting cube inbetween my fingers. :)

I hope my Hoplos get as brave as yours! One of my Hoplos is brave but the other two are really shy – I’m pretty sure I need to do something about the lighting. The brave Hoplo is lots of fun and very friendly. :) When I was floating the fish bags with the Gold Lasers in she (I think!) swam right up to the top of the tank and looked into the bags several times, as if to say, "hello, hello!". Ever since this Hoplo has kept with the Corydras and swims with them at the front of the tank all day, and only goes and mixes with the other Hoplos at night. When the brave Hoplo isn’t swimming with the Corydoras she is dancing up and down in the front corner of the tank.

The chances are that the 3 Albino Corydoras are also Bronze, but I would add another three to give a better sized group that would show more natural behaviour.

The same could be said of your purchase of two Gold Lasers, they will really do much better in a group of at least six of their own kind, despite how this will hit your bank balance!

I made sure that the Albinos were Aeneus not Paleatus, as I wanted to make sure I had a good group of Corydoras aeneus. :)

Before getting the Gold Lasers I read that they were simply a newly discovered strain of the Bronze in a different colour. It’s only since getting them I’ve read that this maybe questionable, so I plan on getting another three. Though the two I have are very bold and are shoaling happily with the regular Bronze. In fact, the smaller of the Gold Lasers (female) seems to have bolded strongly to the smaller of the regular Bronze (who is a male, I believe). They never seem to leave each others sides.
 

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