Liverbird's New Fishless Cycle

[Liverbird36]

Qualifying week has ended so i'm now officially cycled !!!!!

 

[Liverbird36]

AAAAAAAARGH !!!!!! got a Nitrite reading of 2.0ppm this morning !!!! Hoping it's because the Nitrates are off the chart !!!! Ammonia is 0ppm PH is 7.4-7.6

 

[Liverbird36]

Have done a large water change. Not sure what's going on as don't have any fish in tank yet....thank goodness !!

 

[waterdrop]

It might be the test seeing a nitrate spike and falsely showing some nitrite. You've had a lot of double-zeros, so I wouldn't place to much importance on a single test/day, I'd keep going for a few days and you should see that its not a problem.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Liverbird36]

Nitrites still at 2.0ppm this morning. Everything is clearing within 12hrs except the Nitrites, May do another water change as Nitrates still high at 80ppm but down from off the chart after yesterday's water change.

 

[Liverbird36]

Tested Nitrites this morning and they have risen to 5.0ppm ++ Definitely going backwards now. Maybe I wasn't properly cycled in the first place.

 

[PDSimon]

You havn't updated your first page?

whats your pH like?

This is all a bit weird!

 

[Twinklecaz]

It is weird. Since I've been cycled and had fish, I've had 2 tiny Nitrite showings but it seems to be directly related to when I've rinsed out my filter (or the dead plants). But yours has gone riiiiight up again. I wonder if it's your test kit? Did you get the Nitrates down really low? If they're high they can give you a false Nitrite reading can't they?

 

[Liverbird36]

Hi Guy's Started my Fishless cycle today and are new to Tropical Fish keeping so any advice would be warmly welcomed. This is my first ever attempt at Aquarium cycling so please feel free to chastise me if I go awry lol. The tank was set up 6 days prior to the start of this Cycling but had to empty about 80% of tank water due to inncorrect Ammonia dosage given to me by P@H. In those 6 days that the tank was running, the temperature was set at 24 degrees and 2ml dose of Filter Start added every other day, and had a very heavy Bacterial Bloom after day 3. The set up is as follows:
Interpet Fishbox 64 litres: Dimensions 24inch length x 12inch width x 27inch height.
Heater = Interpet Delta Therm 150w
Filter = Interpet PF2 500l/h max (three stage bio filtration) also includes an airation pump at top of filter.
Lighting = Daylight Compact bulb on right side of tank and Blue Moon bulb on the left hand side.
Water dechlorinated using Interpet Bioactive Tapsafe and Interpet Filter Start used every other day to aid filter establishment

Cycling using Homebase Household Ammonia 9.5%
Testing using the API Master Test Kit.

TAP WATER TEST RESULTS

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm
PH = 7.6ppm

DAY 1 Temp 26c Ammonia 0.5ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 0ppm. Temp raised to 30c and 2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 2 Temp 30c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm No Filter Start added.

DAY 3 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 10ppm Ceased the use of Filter Start and 10% water change

DAY 4 Temp 29c Ammonia 3-4ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 5 Temp 29c Ammonia 3.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 3.0ppm

DAY 6 Temp 29c Ammonia 3.oppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 7 Temp 29c Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm 10% water change may hae dropped Ammonia levels.

DAY 8 Temp 29c Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm Added 2ml Ammonia to bring level up after water change.

DAY 9 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm. Tank no longer smells rancid. Nice tropical house smell.

DAY 10 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 11 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 12 TEMP 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 12 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm


DAY 13 Temp 29c Ammonia 3-4ppm Nitrites 0.25 Nitrates just over 5.0ppm

DAY 14 Temp 29c Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrites 1.0ppm Nitrates 10ppm PH 8.2ppm

DAY 15 Temp 29c Ammonia 1.0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm Nitrates 20ppm
2ml Ammonia added as had dropped to 0.25ppm

DAY 16 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm Nitrates 20ppm

DAY 17 Temp 29c Ammonia 0.50ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm Nitrates 70ppm PH 8.2
2ml Ammonia added as had dropped to zero level now 4.0ppm

DAY 18 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale Nitrates 80ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

DAY 19 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale Nitrates 90ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 20 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 100ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 21 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 110ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 22 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 120ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

100% water change as substrate changed to sand. re-dosed with 2ml Ammonia to
bring level back up.

Tests 1hr after water change Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 23 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 40ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

DAY 24 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrtates 80ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm.

DAY 25 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 100ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm.

DAY 26 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 120ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

DAY 27 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 130ppm ish.
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 28 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 140ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
Day 28 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 29 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 140ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 29 8:00pm Ammonia 1.0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 30 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 5.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 150ppm
8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 31 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 31 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm !!!!

DAY 32 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 32 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm

DAY 33 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 160ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 33 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 34 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates Off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm (forgot to add this morning as a result was added 2hrs late !!)
DAY 34 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm.

DAY 35 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale PH 8.0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 35 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 36 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 36 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 37 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 37 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 38 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 38 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

50% water change done. Nitrates 1hr after water change are still off scale.

DAY 39 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 39 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++

DAY 40 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale PH 8.2ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above
DAY 40 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++

DAY 41 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above.
DAY 41 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++

DAY 42 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above.
DAY 42 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale

DAY 43 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above
DAY 43 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale

DAY 44 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above.
DAY 44 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale

90% water change performed and 2.5ml Ammonia added level 5.0ppm
Water stats 1hr later.
Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm Nitrates 40ppm

DAY 45 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm
DAY 45 8:30ppm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 40ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm

DAY 46 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm
DAY 46 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.

DAY 47 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm !! PH 8.2ppm
DAY 47 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 48 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm
DAY 48 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 49 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.50ppm
DAY 49 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 50 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.50ppm
DAY 50 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added

DAY 51 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.50ppm
DAY 51 7:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm

90% water change performed. 2.5ml Ammonia added 8:00pm
Nitrates now 20ppm

DAY 52 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm !!!!! WHOOP WHOOP
DAY 52 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm !!!!!
2.5ml Ammonia added

DAY 53 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm
DAY 53 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 54 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 54 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 55 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 55 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 56 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 56 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 57 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 57 9:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 58 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 58 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.


DAY 59 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 59 8:45pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 60 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 60 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm

OFFICIALLY CYCLED !!!!!!!!!

DAY 65 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm Nitrates off chart.
Day 65 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm PH 7.4-7.6
90% water change and 2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 66 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm Nitrates 80ppm
DAY 66 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 67 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++
DAY 67 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 68 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off chart
DAY 68 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

I haven't a clue what's going on !!! maybe my filter isn't coping do you think. But if it was the filter then wouldn't I have problems with ammonia levels too. The water change didn't seem to help much either. Ph is 7.4-7.6

 

[Liverbird36]

The only conclusion I can come to is that i've entered a mini cycle

 

[Liverbird36]

DAY 69 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off chart
DAY 69 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

 

[Liverbird36]

DAY 70 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites still off chart ? gonna do a compete water change later I think.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Good idea, that might help.

Sorry about the lack of replies, I know it's annoying when people don't. I just dunno what's wrong, it seems so strange to me that you'd be cycled for a week and then it would go that wrong. Your filter didn't stop working for a couple of days did it? Have you tried rinsing it in tap water? Maybe it's too clogged or something

 

[Liverbird36]

Good idea, that might help.

Sorry about the lack of replies, I know it's annoying when people don't. I just dunno what's wrong, it seems so strange to me that you'd be cycled for a week and then it would go that wrong. Your filter didn't stop working for a couple of days did it? Have you tried rinsing it in tap water? Maybe it's too clogged or something

No I haven't changed anything. Filter has been working fine. The only thing I can think of is that when I did a water change the other day (to get the high Nitrites down) I noticed that the little switch that increases the water flow through the filter was on max. I only ever have it half way so wondering if that could have caused some of the problems. Really clueless at the mo. I know you'd help if you could. Will check the filter media later when I do a large water change.

 

[mark4785]

Good idea, that might help.

Sorry about the lack of replies, I know it's annoying when people don't. I just dunno what's wrong, it seems so strange to me that you'd be cycled for a week and then it would go that wrong. Your filter didn't stop working for a couple of days did it? Have you tried rinsing it in tap water? Maybe it's too clogged or something

No I haven't changed anything. Filter has been working fine. The only thing I can think of is that when I did a water change the other day (to get the high Nitrites down) I noticed that the little switch that increases the water flow through the filter was on max. I only ever have it half way so wondering if that could have caused some of the problems. Really clueless at the mo. I know you'd help if you could. Will check the filter media later when I do a large water change.

You need to maintain high nitrites at all times during a fishless cycle so the Nitrospira filter bacteria have their nutrients (that nutrients being nitrite) to produce nitrates. You then generally remove the nitrates. Usually, only massive water changes (80%+) will remove nitrites from the water.

If you remove the nitrites you will have to wait for the nitosomonas filter bacteria to convert more ammonia into nitrite and then you may have to wait quite a sufficient amount of time for the nitrites to be naturally removed due to the fact that your nitrospira (the nitrites food) won't be very strong due to the removal of the nitrites previously.