Gr44's Fishless Cycle Log

[Gr44]

Hi all,

I'm a complete novice and have recently bought a tank, it's approx 600x300x300mm and holds ~52L of water.

Following on from this thread: <a href="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=302866" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=302866</a>

Below I will keep a log of my goings on for all to observe and hopefully offer some advice!

Day One - 17:50

Tested tank water after it had settled for a day (nice and clear now) and got the following readings:

pH = 8.0-8.2
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

I have added approx 2.65ml of Ammonia (9.5%) to the tank using precise 'eyeball' measuring technology (a touch over 50% of a 5ml container )

I plan to test the Ammonia levels in a few hours to see how many ppm I have in the tank.

Day One - 19:55

Tested Ammonia levels again and I'm struggling to tell where it lands on the chart... some where between 4ppm and 8ppm I think, but thats a fair jump!! Shame it doesn't have a smaller scale!

Day Two - 19:40

pH = 8
Ammonia = 4+ppm
Nitrate = 20ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

Day Three - 19:30

pH = 8-8.2
Ammonia = 4+ppm
Nitrate = 20ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm


Day Four - 19:20

pH = 8
Ammonia = 4+ppm
Nitrate = 40ppm
Nitrite = 0.25ppm


Day Five- 20:30

pH = 8
Ammonia = 4ppm
Nitrate = 40-80ppm
Nitrite = 0.50ppm

Day Six - 21:48

pH = 8
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite =0.50ppm

Day Seven

pH = 8
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 0.50ppm

Day Eight - 00:46:

pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 1.0ppm

Day Nine - 23:51

pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 1.00ppm

Day Ten - 19:56

pH = 8
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 1.00ppm

Day Eleven - 22:10

pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 2ppm
Nitate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 2-5ppm

Day Twelve - 22:22

pH =8
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 2-5ppm

Day Thirteen - 23:19

pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 2-5ppm

Day Fourteen - 22:30

pH = 8
Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = 2-5ppm

Day Fifteen - NO TEST

Day Sixteen - 22:00

pH = ~7.8
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm
Nitrite = ~5ppm? (It's very bright purple against a light?)

Day Seventeen - 01:10

pH = 7.4-7.6
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1 or 5ppm... I can't tell - with no light behind it looks slightly closer to 5ppm - with light behind it's 1ppm for sure... how can I tell??

Day Eighteen - 22:00

pH = 7.6
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrate = 80+ppm
Nitrite = off the scales (purple @ start)

Added more ammonia

Day Nineteen - 23:30

pH = 7.4
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrate = 5ppm
Nitrite = 1.0ppm

Again, why are my Nitrates dropping?! I did the test for ages this time...

Oh well, looks like my Nitrite levels are really working their way down now!

My plan is to add another 4-5ppm of Ammonia tonight, re-test before I go tomorrow and add more Ammonia if it's at 0ppm. I will then add some goldfish flakes so hopefully they will keep the bacteria alive while I'm away. If you think this is a good/bad idea or have a better option - please post asap and I'll check back tomorrow before I leave!!

Day Twenty - 05:05

Off on holiday, added fish flakes to help keep the bacteria going!

Day Twenty One

No Test (On Holiday)

Day Twenty Two

No Test (On Holiday)

Day Twenty Three

No Test (On Holiday)

Day Twenty Four

No Test (On Holiday)

Day Twenty Five

No Test (On Holiady)

Day Twenty Six - 15:25

pH = 8.0
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 80+ppm

I've dosed it with Ammonia again so we'll see what happens to it over the weekend!

Day Twenty Six - 23:37

Ammonia = 2-4ppm
Nitrite = 0.50ppm

Day Twenty Seven - 22:55

Ammonia = 1.0ppm
Nitrite = 0.5ppm

I guess the fish flakes might be adding to the Ammonia still as well?

I'll test again approx 11pm and if it's all back to 0ppm I'll add more Ammonia.

Day Twenty Eight - 04:25

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

Added ammonia.

Day Twenty Nine - 17:05

Ammonia = 1 ppm
Nitrite = 1ppm

One question too, I have some filter sponge stuff that a member gave me, I put it in the tank between some rocks to help move it to my filter... can I remove this now?

Day Twenty Nine - 20:55

pH = 7.2-7.4
Ammonia = 0.25-0.5ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = Not Tested

Well, no ammonia added tonight!

Day Thirty

No Test

Day Thirty One - 00:35

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

I've added another dose of ammonia (~4-5ppm)

Day Thirty Two - 00:00

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0.50ppm

Do'h!

No Ammonia added.

Day Thirty Three - 00:00

No test but added ammonia.

Day Thirty Four -

No Test

Day Thirty Five - 10:20

pH = 7.4-7.6
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 80+ppm

I've added ammonia.


​

Thanks for reading... Any and all advice is welcome!

Sean

 

[sjolliff]

Keep your tank at 29C
this is the best temp for the bacteria to grow

 

[Gr44]

Thanks sjoliff, I've cranked up the heater

Just tested the Ammonia and I'm struggling to tell which box it should be in... it's between the 4ppm and 8ppm... shame it doesn't break it down a little more!!

I assume this is okay, now I just leave it a few days and test the ammonia again?

 

[sjolliff]

If you using the API master kit it is hard to tell between 4 and 8ppm, as long as it dont go over 8ppm you will be ok as the wrong bacteria will grow.
i test every 24 hrs and keep a log,
you PH is spot 8-8.4 for the best growth rate
once your ammonia drops then you should see nitrites

 

[waterdrop]

What I'd do with the 4 to 8 color thing is to just add a smidgen less ammonia next time and see if it matches up more closely in your mind with the 4ppm and then just go with the closest match to 4ppm through this first phase of the cycle until you're into the "nitrite spike" phase later on. At the very end of the fishless cycle you can try for that small bit of darker color that might be 5ppm, that's the only time the concentration really matters that much.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

Right you are Gr44, you just wait a few days and tes ammonia again. It often won't move much the first week so no need testing every 12 hours and getting all stressed about it not changing.

 

[Gr44]

Thanks for the help all.

I'll test the levels every 24hours just to keep a nice log of it if nothing else!!

Day Two: (19:40)

pH = 8
Ammonia = 4+ppm
Nitrate = 20ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

Although the Ammonia still shows between 4 and 8ppm it is looking lighter than the test tube from yesterday (I kept it to compare)

Assume having some Nitrate is a good thing?

 

[Gr44]

Oh also....

A picture of my tank for you all to see

Fish Tank!

 

[OldMan47]

That is a nice looking tank Gr44. What did you use for the substrate? It looks sort of like the substrate they use in saltwater reef tanks.

 

[Gr44]

Thanks OldMan47!

It was just a bag of mixed stones... they didn't have a brand on them, just stuff my LFS bags up I presume!

Time to do my tests again shortly... I hope it's nearly fish ready! (I'm an optimist, you know!)

Question for you all;

I'm going to be away from the 12/09 to the 18/09.... If I'm still doing the fishless cycle is there anyway I maintain the work I will have already done ? If I'm lucky enough to have fish in the tank... am I okay to leave them to it for a few days??

Thanks!

 

[coldcazzie]

(I'm an optimist, you know!)

Yes you are - I've just started to fishless cycle my QT and am allowing a few weeks minimum for it to complete!

I'm going to be away from the 12/09 to the 18/09.... If I'm still doing the fishless cycle is there anyway I maintain the work I will have already done ? If I'm lucky enough to have fish in the tank... am I okay to leave them to it for a few days??

Having never done a fishless cycle of my own before I can't answer that bit of the Q. However, fish would be fine left to their own devices for a few days - they won't starve or anything. But it's unlikely you'd have fish in by then...

 

[Gr44]

lol thanks coldcazzie. Well, I'm still hopeful!!!

I'm hoping I might be able to get some mature media from a member, I sent him an email a couple of days ago but not heard back yet. Anyway able to donate who lives around Luton, Milton Keynes, St. Albans, Woking, Central London or North Greenwich? I'll be around all those places in the next week if anyone is able to help me out

Anyway, todays test results:

Day Three - 19:30

pH = 8-8.2
Ammonia = 4+ppm
Nitrate = 20ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

No change since yesterday then

Another question for you.... In the little booklet that came with the fish tank I bought I seem to recall it saying 'dont get the light bulb wet' 'water much not touch the light bulb' etc etc etc.... I was surprised to lift the lid up and find water droplets all over the bulb and inside roof of the tank - presumably from evaperation... either that or I have invisable fish that splash about a lot.

Is this a problem?

Thanks!

Sean

 

[OldMan47]

I really like your optimistic point of view GR44. I have never been quite that optimistic myself. If by some odd chance, you have gotten to the point of having fish by then, they will be fine for a few days without any care. If you are still working on your cycle, much more likely, leave it with 2 ppm of ammonia in the tank and at least the first day you will make some progress. After that you will only lose a small daily percentage of the bacterial colony that you have developed. What this means is you will pick up just a day or two behind where you left off on the fishless cycle, not enough to stress out about.

 

[Gr44]

Ah thats good... I was worried I'd lose all the hard work. Why only put in 2ppm rather than 4-5ppm?

Also... any thoughts on the lightbulb question above?

One more thing, the NitrIte test on the API kits... should they be almost totally transparent? Not solid colours like all the others but you can faintly see the colour... been a tint of blue before today now it's turned slightly purple... Is that normal?

Day Three - 19:20

pH = 8
Ammonia = 4ppm+
Nitrate = 40ppm
Nitrite = 0.25ppm

What does this mean... am I getting any where yet?

Thanks all

 

[coldcazzie]

I do find that the nitrite ones are much clearer than the nitrate or amm or pH. Although actualy I find the kh and gh ones the hardest to tell. If it's a bit difficult to tell then you can try looking down the length of the test tube to get a better idea of the colour.

I'd have thought that a light bulb for a fish tank would have to be able to deal with a certain amount of damp because of condensation on the hood and any splashing from fish or air bubbles. If the bulb couldnt handle any wet at all then a fishtank would be a pretty stupid place to put it really wouldn't it... maybe that's just me!

And it looks like you are starting to get some bacterial growth yes good start!!