Help Needed With Fishless Cycle (Started It Without Test Kit!)

[DreamertK]

Congratz!
 
Also remember that your bacteria will starve without NH3 when there are no fish in the tank. You should actually try putting some in there and testing the tank some time later to see if you still have any NH3/NO2 remaining in the tank, and test before fish go in of course!
 
The whole world of fish is yours now!

 

[daveyjay1]

Hi all! Thanks for all your kind words. I never thought I would be so happy about seeing test tubes turn yellow and blue. Well, I dosed with Ammonia again last night and this time took some readings this morning and I have still got double zeros - so this is looking great. Seems to have cycled quickly. Annoyingly, I am away this weekend so wont be able to get any fish until Sunday at the earliest (if the readings stay the same). So I will keep dosing with Ammonia each day - when would be the best time to do a large water change? I also tested the PH last night - which looked a little darker blue than 7.6 - so I did a High Range PH test and the colour it went was not really on the chart - the colour was much 'brighter'. Does this mean that my PH is really just over 7.6?
 
Thanks again for all your help - this has actually been quite a fun process!
 
Dave

 

[Gvilleguy]

Hey Dave - yes - it sounds like your pH is around 7.6.

You can do a large water change for reducing the nitrates the day before you go get your fish, or even the morning of, depending on your schedule. Do you happen to know the pH of your tap water? In my town, the water comes out at a pH of 7.2, but then crashes into the low 6.4 range within a day or two. So if yours changes dramatically like that (sounds like it doesn't) you would want to leave time for your tank water to 'settle' before acclimating new fish.

My main advice going forward would be for you to monitor your tank stats several times per week for ammonia/nitrite. In my case my tank was prone to mini-cycles where ammonia would spike to 1 or 2 ppm after tank cleanings or any other changes. This was made worse by my low pH and soft water. Your higher pH will be more stable, most likely. But my tank filters didn't really mature until about 12 months in. And the tank has been solid ever since, with no mini-cycles at all. So expect to see some 'young tank syndrome' and do water changes if you have any trouble.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The good news is that ammonia is less toxic at lower pH, but the bad news is that nitrite is more toxic.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Eagle - I was very happy to find that out a few years ago when my tank kept having mini-cycles! It was usually ammonia and not nitrite that would cause me trouble after tank cleanings. So it didn't really seem to impact my fish.

 

[DreamertK]

My water is extremely hard, which is why the GH/KH test is a little bit important, so PH crashes are a lot less prone to happening. They can be deadly to fish though. I have gotten NH3 spikes after doing a thorough cleaning of the tank/equipment though. It's just something you have to watch out for with fish in the tank.
 
I'm not too sure why anyone would be happy with minicycles.
 
I'd just do the WC a few hours or so before putting the fish in at the latest.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Oops - yes. I guess that sentence looks stupid out of context! Ha!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

My water is extremely hard, which is why the GH/KH test is a little bit important, so PH crashes are a lot less prone to happening. They can be deadly to fish though. I have gotten NH3 spikes after doing a thorough cleaning of the tank/equipment though. It's just something you have to watch out for with fish in the tank.
 
I'm not too sure why anyone would be happy with minicycles.

 
I'd just do the WC a few hours or so before putting the fish in at the latest.

 
 
I believe Gville was stating that he was happy to learn that ammonia was less toxic at lower pH during the minicycles... not happy with the minicycles.

 

[daveyjay1]

Hi - well I have come back from my trip away - done a 90% water change and my parameters are now:
 
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
PH 7.6
Nitrate: about 40ppm.
 
Is my Nitrate level OK - or too high?
 
My plan is to dose with Ammonia at 8pm this evening and test it at 8am tomorrow - If I get double zeros - I will be going to get some fish!
 
Does this plan sound OK?
 
Many thanks
 
Dave

 

[eaglesaquarium]

For no fish, the nitrate level doesn't matter.  It's fine for fish, but should be lowered by a water change if you had fish.  What's the nitrate in your tap?

 

[daveyjay1]

For no fish, the nitrate level doesn't matter.  It's fine for fish, but should be lowered by a water change if you had fish.  What's the nitrate in your tap?

 
Hi - I have done a 90% water change - do I need to do another one? I will check my tap water now and report back!

 

[Mikeco]

Congrats to you Davejay1! Mine is driving me crazy. I had zero nitrites for two days and now it is back up to 2+. I am still putting ammonia in but really starting to get frustrated. Any words of encouragement?

 

[daveyjay1]

Congrats to you Davejay1! Mine is driving me crazy. I had zero nitrites for two days and now it is back up to 2+. I am still putting ammonia in but really starting to get frustrated. Any words of encouragement?

 
Hi Mikeco! Sorry to hear that your nitrite has gone up again - I am afraid I can't offer much advice as I am new to all of this - maybe check your PH levels? You will get there in the end!! Good luck.

For no fish, the nitrate level doesn't matter.  It's fine for fish, but should be lowered by a water change if you had fish.  What's the nitrate in your tap?

 
Hi - well I have tested my tap water and the Nitrate reading is the same as it is in the tank! It is bright orange - so I would guess about 40ppm - is this OK? Is there anything I should do?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You are doing what's best for your fish Mike.  Just think about how many frantic water changes you avoiding by doing it this way.  Honestly, a fishless cycle takes no more time than a fish-in cycle.  You are going to be able to add a bunch of fish at one time, and that will make it all worthwhile in the end.  Patience.  
 
 
dave, 
What were your stats for ammonia and nitrite before the change?  I'd do at least a partial change before adding fish, but its not necessary before that.

 

[daveyjay1]

Hi - the stats before doing the change were both 0 for Ammonia and Nitrite. Is it unusual that my tap water has such high Nitrate reading? Thanks for your help!
 
Also - should it be OK to add fish tomorrow?