Liverbird's New Fishless Cycle

[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.

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.

Hi Mark, The tank has officially cycled. Did my qually week and the filter has been processing the Ammonia and Nitrites in under 12hrs for that wee. For some reason about 4 days later I suddenly got a Nitrite spike. I wasn't sure why as I haven't put any fish in tank yet. At first I thought I was going through a mini cycle but as I haven't any fish was not convinced as to that being the answer. So Was wondering if it could be due to the alteration in the filter flow from medium (which I had it set to during cycling) to max Must have accudentally knocked it at some point.

 

[Liverbird36]

I think what i'm going to do is to leave the filter flow to max and keep dosing the ammonia. I think the filter hasn't cycled enough to manage that level of filtration. Hopefully, if I continue with the cycle on the increased filtration level, then just maybe I wil build an even larger and stronger bacteria colony. The only conclusion that I can come to is that yes the tank was officially cycled with the filter at the setting it was but accidentally knocking the filter flow setting has meant at the increased filtration level the bacteria colonies are just not large enough hence the Nitrite spike.

 

[mark4785]

It will be hard to determine what has upset your filter bacteria, but if nothing has changed a part from water flow, I guess that would explain the problem. Just be sure to keep the nitrospira nutrients happy by not removing too much nitrite. I think most people encounter mini-cycles when they have added fish after completing a fishless cycle, and only then would they be trying to remove nitrite due to the health risk to the fish.

 

[Liverbird36]

It will be hard to determine what has upset your filter bacteria, but if nothing has changed a part from water flow, I guess that would explain the problem. Just be sure to keep the nitrospira nutrients happy by not removing too much nitrite. I think most people encounter mini-cycles when they have added fish after completing a fishless cycle, and only then would they be trying to remove nitrite due to the health risk to the fish.

Will do. Thanks ever so much for your help Mark. Very much appreciated.

 

[FishyWishie]

The additional flow causing the setback idea to me has merit. My own setback in my cycle occured within 2 days of me adding an internal 4+ filter to supplement the filtration of my external 305.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Ha! and I thought that was probably crap when I said it!

I'd say prob the good news is it won't take long to catch up.

 

[Liverbird36]

The additional flow causing the setback idea to me has merit. My own setback in my cycle occured within 2 days of me adding an internal 4+ filter to supplement the filtration of my external 305.

That's really reassuring to know !!!! Have left the filter flow turned up but have increased the heater temp as are aware i'm probably stil going to be cycling a little longer. Can't believe I didn't realise this problem until I spoke with caz. Forgot to test this morning but thi evenings results are as follows..

DAY 71 8:00pm Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 30ppm PH 8.2ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

Thanks al for the great advice given (as always)

 

[Liverbird36]

Nitrites Off chart.

 

[Liverbird36]

Today's Nitrite test is STILL !!! off the chart !!!! Just as well i'm not the impatient type !! not sure how long that's gonna last for though. Very tempted to re-home Gecko into it and buy a snake for his old home.

 

[PDSimon]

Where are pics of this gecko

 

[Liverbird36]

Where are pics of this gecko

I've got loads !! have to work out how to get them on here lol might see if I can at least get it as my avatar for ya. He's in a 3ft tank at the mo as there was two of them but he needs to be moved down to a 2ft ideally, 3ft is too big. Really want a Corn snake now lol Oh.... he's a Leopard Gecko. Good to hear all is still going really well with your fish.

 

[PDSimon]

get a photobucket account and then you can post the image code and it'll come up easily

Cheers

 

[Liverbird36]

get a photobucket account and then you can post the image code and it'll come up easily

Cheers

Ahhh ok gonna give it a go....I'm not technology minded though lol

 

[Liverbird36]

YAY !!!!!!!! I did it !!!!!! Maybe twice was a bit much but I got there !!! Thanks Si

 

[PDSimon]

Wow, stunning little guy! What are they like to keep?

And no worries... just use that IMG code and it'll work on most forums