Katew's Fishless Cycle Log

[KateW]

As the other Kate said, this forum just doesn't have enough fishless cycle logs... After a fairly brutal fish-in cycle on my 10 gallon tank (my own ignorance admitted, won't be doing that again), the new tank has just started a fishless cycle. here are the details - please let me know if I have missed anything!


Tank: Aquaone Eurostyle 80
Capacity: 185 litres
Filter: Aquaone 750 series 2 (rated up to 220 litres)
Media: 3 x sponges, 1 x ceramic noodles, 1 x ceramic gravel, 1 x floss pad.
Heater: 200 watt (aquaone)
Temperature: 29 degrees c
Substrate: B & Q playsand (thoroughly washed - cloudiness nearly gone)
Ammonia: Boots household ammonia, 9.5%
Testkit: API Freshwater mastertest

No decorations yet, bogwood soaking for duration of cycle. Airpump and stone has been ordered to increase surface agitation, will be installed in next day or two.

On 27th March some mature media (ceramic gravels and slices of sponge) from 10 gallon tank was added to each basket. Tank was filled and everything switched on.

All tests done with an API mastertest kit


Tap water test results

pH/HighpH: 7.4/7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40


Day 1 24 hrs (7pm) 9.5 ml ammonia added for 5 ppm.

Test results after 30 minutes


pH/High pH: >7.6 / 8.4 (is this sharp an increase normal?)
Ammonia: > 4ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40


Now I suppose it is just waiting for those A-bacs to get munching...

Please don't be shy with the comments/questions/criticisms - I really want to do this right this time around.

Thanks

Day 2 Ammonia 4ppm
Day 4 pH 7.8 Ammonia 4ppm Nitrite 0ppm (but not the same blue as usual)

Day 17 Ammonia <2ppm Nitrite 5+
Day 18 Ammonia 0 ppm! Nitrite 5 + (instant purple) Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm.

Day 23 pH 7.6 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrite 5 + Redosed ammonia to 2 ppm 30 % water change done at 12 hour mark
Day 24 pH 6.8 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrite 5+ Redosed ammonia to 2 ppm
Day 25 pH 7.6 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrite 5+ Redosed ammonia to 2 ppm 15% water change done at 12 hour mark
Day 26 pH 6.6 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 2 Readings taken by someone else
Day 27 pH 6 Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 2??? Readings taken by someone else
Day 28 pH 7.6 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrite 1? Redosed ammonia to 2 ppm Nitrite colour hard to read
Day 29 pH 7.6 Ammonia 1 ppm Nitrite 5+ Ammonia processing seems to have slowed dramatically?
Day 30 Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 2
Day 31 pH 6.4 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 50% water change for pH, redosed ammonia to 3 ppm
Day 32 pH 7.6 Ammonia 1 Nitrite 2
Day 33 pH 7.6 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 Redosed ammonia to 3 ppm
Day 34 pH 7.4 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 2
Day 35pH 7.8 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 3 ppm. Ammonia to 0 in 36 hours, nitrite in 48 hours 2 teaspoons bicarb added to raise pH to 7.8
Day 36 pH 7.8 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 1
Day 37 pH 7.8 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 3 ppm, pH seems to be holding steady.
Day 38 pH 7.8 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0.5
Day 39 pH 7.8 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 40 pH 7.8 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0.5
Day 41 pH 7.8 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm, accidental big sniff of ammonia 10 litre water change after decorations added
Day 42 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.5! Big advances overnight!
Day 42 (24hrs) Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0.5 This morning's reading must have been a dud
Day 43 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0
Day 43 (24hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 44 (12hrs) Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 1
Day 44 (24hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 - Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 45 (12 hrs) Ammonia 1 Nitrite 4
Day 45 (24hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 2 -Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 46 (12hrs) pH 6.2 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 5+ Added 2.5 tsps bicarb to raise pH - no time for water change
Day 46 (24 hrs) pH 7.8 Ammonia 0 Nitrite >0.25 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 47 (12hrs) pH 7.8 Ammonia <0.25 Nitrite 5+
Day 47 (24hrs) pH 7.8 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 48 (12hrs) pH 7.8 {b}Ammonia 0 [/b] Nitrite 5
Day 48 (24 hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 (nitrite actually 0 at 19 hrs - tested before planting, scaping and 60% w/c) Redose at 24 hrs.
Day 49 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
Day 49 (24hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm
Day 50 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25
Day 50 (24hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm


Day 51 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm at 24 hrs
Day 52 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 80% water change to reduce nitrates, redosed ammonia to 4ppm at 24 hrs
Day 53 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 50% water change Redosed ammonia to 4 ppm at 24 hrs
Day 54 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 pH 7.6 Redosed ammonia to 2 ppm at 24 hrs
Day 55 (12hrs) Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 80% water change, reduced temperature to 24 degrees, ready for fish

 

[Skins]

Hello KateW,
Its looking spot on

Keith.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Excellent start to your log. Sorry that you have 40 nitrates right out of the tap!

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with the other members, excellent log start! WD

 

[KateW]

Thanks guys for the encouragement, I appreciate it. Now I just have to learn a bit of patience.

Day 2 Ammonia: 4ppm


I will just update the opening post from now I think, but a quick question - is it OK to test pH every three days or so, and only test more frequently if it seems to be getting lower quickly?

 

[Gvilleguy]

Yes, that is fine to only test pH every few days. Also, it's great to update the original post, since it allows us to see your results all in one spot. However, feel free to create a new post in the thread with a new note so that your thread gets "unburied" in the stack.

 

[KateW]

Day 4 update - pH down to 7.8 on the high range test. Ammonia test green is definitely light but not really 2ppm. The Nitrite test is an odd one - not the usual baby blue of 0ppm, but not really purple either - maybe it is just on the turn. Fingers crossed!

 

[KateW]

There doesn't seem to be much movement going on here

Anyone think it is worth squeezing more mature media in? I don't know how effective the first 'donation' was.

Alternatively feel free to tell me to shut up and get some patience...

 

[KittyKat]

It can take up to a couple of weeks to see movement.. For the moment, clean your current filters in the new tank.

 

[KateW]

I cleaned out the filter as suggested - there was a bit of sand left in the bucket, and I think the flow looks a bit faster, so maybe that will help, thanks for the prompt.

While the filter was open I added some more Biorb gravel (which I believes works as the bio media in the Biorb) to the bottom basket - about 20 pieces or so. the Biorb has been double zeros for months now, so hopefully there should be some bacteria on there.

I also learnt a valuable lesson about restarting the filter and turning the taps on in the right order... luckily not too much of a flood

So my test results for today are ammonia 2 ppm (still), but nitrite has stayed back down at 0 - is it possible that I have enough n-bacs to process the very small amount of nitrite coming from the very small ammonia drop? Or is there still another large amount of nitrite to show...

pH today is 7.6 or 7.8 on the high range test - I know the ideal is 8+ but do I need to worry about this yet?

 

[KittyKat]

You are right about the substrate being just bog standard bio media

Yes, it is possible for the bacteria to grow at different rates

It is much more important that pH is stable, than it being spot on, once you're into the cycle.

 

[KateW]

So today although there isn't any definite evidence of an ammonia drop, the nitrite reading is definitely 0.25 ppm today. Nitrates look to be the same as the tap sample, but I suppose 40 to 80 ppm is a pretty big leap - does anyone else have trouble reading the higher colours?

I'm beginning to think I must have overdosed on the ammonia to start with - which may explain why it is taking a while to drop?

Any expert opinions on whether or not it is worth doing a partial water change or anything?

 

[Tizer]

Stop panicing and let it do its job having a nitrite reading is very good progress

 

[KateW]

OK, I shall consider myself told!

Patience has never been my strong point...

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, be patient, something is obviously happening.

If you get a complete stall, it can often help to do a large water change.