Help Please With Fishless Cycling

[Clair]

I was wondering if someone could help answer my question in regards to cycling my tank?

I started a fishless cycle 4 days ago using ammonia to start it off. The ammonia is still reading 5ppm and has not yet moved, is this normal as I would have thought that by now I would have needed to add more? Also I have just realised that I never used a water conditioner to make the water safe from chlorine/chloramine as I have just completely forgot in the hurry to get the tank filled up I guess, so is this stalling my cycling process and if so can I just add aquasafe into the tank now directly? If someone could advise I would be really grateful.

Thanks

 

[JustKia]

It's possible that the cholrine/chloramines in your water have prevented the cycle from getting under way.
Yes, you can just add in your water conditioner now.

There's a link in my siggie for fishless cycling - it's a great starting point and may help you out quite a bit =)

 

[Clair]

It's possible that the cholrine/chloramines in your water have prevented the cycle from getting under way.
Yes, you can just add in your water conditioner now.

There's a link in my siggie for fishless cycling - it's a great starting point and may help you out quite a bit =)

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply. I will add some now then. Also thanks for the link I will also check that out now too.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Good advice form above! ^

Make sure you add a water conditioner to your water every time you add water to your tank.

Also, it can take up to 3 weeks to see the first initial drop in ammonia. This is an extreme case, however, and does not happen all that often, it is just something to know. When I did a fishless cycle a little while ago, I did not see any significant drop in ammoina until the 18th day. Usually most people see a drop in ammonia around 8-10 days. However, since you have not had any water conditioner in the tank, your day one would start now, when you add the water conditioner.

Cycling is a really good test for ones patience. Hang in there.

On average it takes 4-6 weeks to complete a fishless cycle, and it is not uncommon for it to take longer than that.

One thing that you could do to significantly speed up your cycle is to get some Mature Filter Media (MM). If you can get some MM from someone who has fish, then that piece of MM you got from them would contain the beneficial bacteria that you need, the kind you are trying to colonize to process the ammonia and nitrite. So, if you can, get some MM and place it into your filter. This would rapidly increase the colonization of the bacteria needed to process the ammonia, which in terms would greatly shorten the time it takes for your tank to cycle.

-FHM

 

[Clair]

Good advice form above! ^

Make sure you add a water conditioner to your water every time you add water to your tank.

Also, it can take up to 3 weeks to see the first initial drop in ammonia. This is an extreme case, however, and does not happen all that often, it is just something to know. When I did a fishless cycle a little while ago, I did not see any significant drop in ammoina until the 18th day. Usually most people see a drop in ammonia around 8-10 days. However, since you have not had any water conditioner in the tank, your day one would start now, when you add the water conditioner.

Cycling is a really good test for ones patience. Hang in there.

On average it takes 4-6 weeks to complete a fishless cycle, and it is not uncommon for it to take longer than that.

One thing that you could do to significantly speed up your cycle is to get some Mature Filter Media (MM). If you can get some MM from someone who has fish, then that piece of MM you got from them would contain the beneficial bacteria that you need, the kind you are trying to colonize to process the ammonia and nitrite. So, if you can, get some MM and place it into your filter. This would rapidly increase the colonization of the bacteria needed to process the ammonia, which in terms would greatly shorten the time it takes for your tank to cycle.

-FHM

HI FHM,

Thanks for your reply. I have now added the conditioner. Feel a bit silly that I forgot at the start, I know all of these things as I have kept fish before for quite a while. The cycling process has pretty much left my memory as its so confusing so just trying to get as much info as I possibly can to make it easier. As for the mature media unfortunately I have no access to any but it doesn't matter its not a necessity so I will just be patient instead. Last thing, when I posted this question it was moved to the * newbie section which seems unfair as I am not new to fishkeeping it has been my hobby for a while, I only asked about cycling, so I assume whoever moved it assumed because I was cycling I am a "newbie".
Anyway thanks all for the help in this matter, much appreciated!
Clair

* Edit, It should have read new to the hobby. Apologies.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yeah, the mods/admin like to keep the forum organized, so that may be why they moved it, and yeah, probably thought since you were cycling that you must be new. Oh well, no feelings hurt, I hope... lol. Unfortunately the mods/admim are the only ones who can move threads, so I, or anyone else in that matter cannot move it back.

At least you found your answer. If not, feel free to ask as many questions as you want!

-FHM

 

[Clair]

Yeah, the mods/admin like to keep the forum organized, so that may be why they moved it, and yeah, probably thought since you were cycling that you must be new. Oh well, no feelings hurt, I hope... lol. Unfortunately the mods/admim are the only ones who can move threads, so I, or anyone else in that matter cannot move it back.

At least you found your answer. If not, feel free to ask as many questions as you want!

-FHM

Hi FHM,

No, no feelings hurt not at all its just that people shouldn't just make assumptions as I would rather not be in new to the hobby section as I do happen to have lots of fishkeeping knowledge apart from cycling that is. thats all quite fuzzy Thanks for all your help and for taking the time.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your welcome!

Yeah, I see where you are coming from, about them making assumptions and all. If it helps, I have had a lot of threads moved...

Maybe, instead, that certain mod or admin should PM you before they go ahead and move stuff around.

-FHM

 

[Clair]

Your welcome!

Yeah, I see where you are coming from, about them making assumptions and all. If it helps, I have had a lot of threads moved...

Maybe, instead, that certain mod or admin should PM you before they go ahead and move stuff around.

-FHM

Yeah FHM that would be a good idea on the pm thing, oh well at least its not just me getting posts moved then

 

[fatheadminnow]

-FHM

 

[JustKia]

It's in new to the hobby because that's where start up questions, such as cycling belong.
It's nothing personal to you, it's just where you are likely to get the most help for your question that's all.

 

[Mr Bliss]

It's in new to the hobby because that's where start up questions, such as cycling belong.
It's nothing personal to you, it's just where you are likely to get the most help for your question that's all.

Also, the answers to your questions will be useful to all the new hobbyists who come to this subforum first.

Sometimes I think it might be useful to have an entire "Cycling & new tank setup" subforum though.

 

[Clair]

It's in new to the hobby because that's where start up questions, such as cycling belong.
It's nothing personal to you, it's just where you are likely to get the most help for your question that's all.

Also, the answers to your questions will be useful to all the new hobbyists who come to this subforum first.

Sometimes I think it might be useful to have an entire "Cycling & new tank setup" subforum though.

Hi, Yeah I agree with a new forum solely on cycling and new tank set up, today when I wanted to post I was not sure what section it should be in as I couldn't find a setting up section so yeah good idea, think it would be quite beneficial

 

[JustKia]

New to the hobby covers setting stuff up - it's already been discussed about a separate "cycling" forum and was decided against as it would just double up this one.

Most experienced people, or people with long running tanks aren't going to be looking for setting up and cycling.
Most people who are looking for help with setting up and cycling are new(ish) to the hobby.

Besides, if you're ever unsure where your question belongs a helpful mod will be online at some point and will move the post the the forum they believe will get you the most help

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yeah, that makes sense. Cycling is good for new comers to read about, so that makes sens why it was moved there.

-FHM