Lily Rose's 64L Tank Cycle

[LilyRose Tank]

Well I begun cycling fish free yesterday, so today is day 1

Day 1 Ammonia 4 pH 7.4
Day 2 Ammonia 4 pH 7.4
Day 3 Ammonia 4 pH 7.4 ( extra test after 12 hours)
Day 4 Ammonia 4 pH 7.4
Day 5 Ammonia 4 pH 7.4
Day 6 Ammonia 4
Day 6 Ammonia 2 Nitrite 0.25
Day 7 Ammonia 2 Nitrite 0.25
Day 8am Ammonia 2 Nitrite 1 pH 7.4
Day 8pm Ammonia 2 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 5!pH 7.4
Day 9 Ammonia 2 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 20
Day 10 Ammonia 1 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 40
Day 11 Ammonia 0.50 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 80 pH8.8!
Day 12 Ammonia 4 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 40 pH 7.4 after 80% water change, add 4ppm ammonia,
Day 13 am Ammonia 2 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 80 pH7.4
Day 13pm Ammonia 1 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 160 pH 7.2
Day 14am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 40!pH 7.2 added 3.25mls ammonia
Day 14pm Ammonia 2 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 20 pH 7.0
Day 15am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 20 pH 6.8 added 2.5mls of ammonia ...2ppm
Day 15pm Ammonia 0.50 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 10! pH 6.4 will add bicarb tomorrow, havnt got any now
Day 16am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 20 pH 6.2 added 2 1/2 mls amm, 3 1/2 tp of bicarb,amm2ppm, pH 8.2
Day 16pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 20 pH 8.4
Day 17am ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8.4 added 3mls ammonia
Day 17pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8.2
Day 18am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8.2 added 2.5ml ammonia
Day 18pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate40 pH 8.2
Day 19am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate5 pH 8.4 added 2.5mls ammonia
Day 19pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8
Day 20am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8.4 added ammonia to 2ppm
Day 20pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 10 pH 8.2
Day 21am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8.2/8.4 added 2 1/2 mls ammonia
Day 21pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH8.2 (THREE WEEK STAGE)
Day 22am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8 added 2.5mls ammonia
Day 22pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8
Day 23am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 10 pH 8 added 2.5mls ammonia
Day 23pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.50 Nitrate 5 pH 8.....75% water change, filter clean, added bicarb to keep pH at 8, nitrites had been 1ppm just after water change.....addd 2.5mls ammonia to get nitrite to spike again
Day 24am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.50 Nitrate 5 pH 8 added 2.5mls ammonia
Day 24pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5 Nitrate 5 pH 7.4 added bicarb
Day 25am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8 added 2.5mls ammonia
Day 25pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 20 pH 8.2
Day 26am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.5!!Nitrate 80 pH 8 added 2.5 mls ammonia ( testing at 11am, not 9am)
Day 26pm Ammonia 1 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 80 pH 8
Day 27am Ammonia 1 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8
Day 27pm Ammonia 1 Nitrite 5+ Nitrate 5 pH 8

Day 28am Ammonia 4 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 pH 8.2..... complete tank change...maybe restart
Day 28pm Ammonia 4 pH 8
Day 1am Ammonia 4 pH 8
Day 2am Ammonia 4 pH 8.4
Day 3am Ammonia 4
Day 4am Ammonia 4
Day 5am Ammonia 4 pH 8.4
Day 6am Ammonia 4 pH 8.4
Day 7am Ammonia 4 pH 8.4
Day 7pm pH 8.8...90% waterchange to gravel, re ammonia and dechlorinator
Day 8am Ammonia 4 pH 8
Day 9am Ammonia 4 pH 8.2
Day 10am ammonia 4
Day 11am Ammonia 4
Day 12am Ammonia 4
Day 13am Ammonia 2/4 Nitrites 0/0.25?
Day 14am Ammonia 2 Nitrites .25 pH 7.4
Day 15am Ammonia 1 Nitrites .50 Nitrates 0-5 pH 7.4 added bicarb
Day 16am Ammonia 1 Nitrites 1 Nitrates 5 pH 8 temp 29
Day 16pm Ammonia 1 Nitrites 1 Nitrates 5 pH 8 temp 29
Day 17am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrites 1 Nitrates 10 pH 8.2
Day 17pm Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0/.25 Nitrates 5 pH 8.2 added 3mls ammonia
Day 18am Ammonia 4 Nitrites .50 Nitrates 10 pH 8.2
Day 18pm Ammonia 1 Nitrites 1 Nitrates 20 pH 8.2
Day 19am Ammonia 0 Nitrites .25 Nitrates 10 pH 8.2
Day 19pm Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 10 pH 8.2 added 3ml ammonia @6pm
Day 20am Ammonia 0 Nitrites .25 Nitrates 20 pH 8.2
Day 20pm Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 20ppm pH 8.2 added 3mls ammonia
Day 21am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrites 5 Nitrates 20ppm pH 8.2
Day 21pm Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0.25 Nitrates 40ppm pH 8.2
Day 22am Ammonia 1 Nitrites 5 Nitrates 80ppm pH 8.2
Day 22pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrates 160ppm pH 8.2 full warwechange incase high nitrates are slowing cycle down
Day 23am Ammonia 1 Nitrite .25 Nitrates 10ppm
Day 23pm Ammonia .25 Nitrites 0 pH 7.4
Day 24am ammonia .50 nitrites .25 nitrates 10 ph 8
Day 24pm ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates 10 ph 8 added 4ppm ammonia
Day 25am ammonia 2 nitrites 1 nitrates 10 ph 8

Day 25/1pm ammonia 4, nitrites 1, nitrates 80! waterchange, filter swop( to 48L filter)recharge 4ml ammonia
Day 26am ammonia 1 nitrite 1 nitrate 10 pH7.4
Day 26pm ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10 added 4ml ammonia
Day 27am ammonia 1 nitrite 5 nitrate 40
Day 27pm ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 40 added 4ml ammonia

 

[KoiKris]

Good luck, hope everything goes well!

 

[soccermatt]

good luck, what method are you using?

 

[LilyRose Tank]

hi guys. I'm using the fish free system, no plants, no fish, add ammonia to 4ppm and wait for bacteria to colonise and sort it.
levels
pH .......7.4
Ammonia.....4ppm
Nitrite.....0ppm

QUESTION.... Am I supposed to have filter on fast or slow...got it on fast, but is that wrong?

 

[KoiKris]

Im not 100% sure on that but I think the main thing is that its running. Dont think it has any influence on the cycle, but dont just take it from me as there are bound to be people with more experience than me. I ran my filter at full speed for my cycle and it did it within the normal 4-8 week period with no problems. No losses since the cycle either so

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Jayne, Congrats on finding the right ammonia and starting your fishless cycle!

The speed setting doesn't matter for the bacteria. Speed settings on filters are mostly all about either blowing the fish around less in the tank or cutting the noise in a child's bedroom, things like that.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[LilyRose Tank]

thanks waterdrop. x

 

[LilyRose Tank]

ok did another test ( excited or what!)
ammonia 2ppm ( hopefully....and we're off)

 

[waterdrop]

Good! You're getting a little ammonia drop.. must be some A-Bacs in there somewhere.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[LilyRose Tank]

todays test came up looking more like a 4ppm... got too excited and read it too early i guess... ho hum!
I don't get it, it smells like there are bacteria in there!

 

[KoiKris]

It'll start dropping soon! Just be patient Patience is key in the fishy business

 

[LilyRose Tank]

yeah Iknow I must be paitient. trying to be, todays results are the same x

 

[pjandnoo]

yeah Iknow I must be paitient. trying to be, todays results are the same x

Stick with the cycle, it is hard work but will be worth it in the end. Thats what I keep telling the misses anyway lol

 

[LilyRose Tank]

todays results the same

Any ideas what I can do to increase my chances of getting this off to a good start.

 

[Hungrydoug]

It's all just patience, I've been going for 18 days now and only yesterday did the first 4ppm of ammonia drop to zero. You can follow the excitement here. I'm editing the first post with the daily updates.