Mola Mola - Fishless Cycle Log

[Mola Mola]

Day 9

ammonia - 3 ppm
nitrite - 0.25 ppm
nitrate - 3 ppm

Absolutely no movement again today. The thing that confuses me is that I seemed to get some ammonia and nitrite conversion early on, and then nothing since.

I might whack up the temperature of the tank. The thermometer current says 28C, but I don't really trust it. How hot would be too hot for the bacteria?

 

[Kachi]

Oh trust me, it will happen over night.

I was in the same spot 2 nights ago after waiting a few days just like you.

It will happen all of a sudden and you will be over joyed. Keep at it. Have patients and you'll be fine. The more patients you have now, the more gratefying it will be when you have a healthy tank with awesome fish in it to take care of.

good luck!!!!


EDIT - My tanks temp is at a 29.7c right now. It's been like that since I put the heater in. I've read in some other posts and the other Cycle guide on the site that 28-30c is a good range.

 

[Mola Mola]

Oh trust me, it will happen over night.

I was in the same spot 2 nights ago after waiting a few days just like you.

It will happen all of a sudden and you will be over joyed. Keep at it.

Thanks Kachi, I really will be overjoyed. Not today though!

Day 10

ammonia - 3 ppm
nitrite - 0.25 ppm
nitrate - 3 ppm

All readings the same.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Good luck! Just dropping in to tell you my Ammonia reached .25 today so I'm re-dosing. Nitrite is off the chart too. Just wait it will happen overnight.

 

[Mola Mola]

Good luck! Just dropping in to tell you my Ammonia reached .25 today so I'm re-dosing. Nitrite is off the chart too. Just wait it will happen overnight.

Thanks for the update, and congratulations. No change for me today.

Day 11

ammonia - 3 ppm
nitrite - 0.25 ppm
nitrate - 3 ppm

 

[XeroTolerance]

Don't worry you'll get there soon.

 

[Mola Mola]

Don't worry you'll get there soon.

Thanks, I really hope so. I was expecting to be starting the "nitrite" part of the cycle by now, but no movement so far.

Day 12

ammonia - 3 ppm
nitrite - 0.25 ppm
nitrate - 3 ppm

Same again!

 

[philrag11]

Hi

Took me around 17 / 18 days before my ammonia dropped and I thought my cycle (link below) overall was quick compared to some others....

Patience is required but you will get there!

Regards

Phil


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/366477-phils-fishless-cycle/

 

[Mola Mola]

Took me around 17 / 18 days before my ammonia dropped and I thought my cycle (link below) overall was quick compared to some others....

Patience is required but you will get there!

Thanks for that. It is always reassuring to see other cycles that had not kicked in by now.

 

[XeroTolerance]

To be exact I had my two mystery snails in the tank producing ammonia until I decided to do a fishless cycle. I moved them to a 1.5 gallon and added ammonia to my 10 gallon. In that case for me it was around 21 days until ammonia dropped so don't worry! Once it drops it goes fast. At least for me. My cycle is kind of weird. It took forever to drop ammonia but its blowing though phase 2 like its nothing. I hope the same happens for you.

I got my first reading of Nitrate today! 5ppm!!

EDIT: I realized I started to get the cycle going when the water level dropped due to evaporation. I have a power filter. The tank water should be right below where the water deposits from the filter. Anyways my water level dropped even though my tank light is never on. Now the water makes a bit of a splash when it hits the tank water. This adds more oxygen. Anyways what I'm saying is raise the oxygen. If you think you have enough, raise it more. It won't hurt it will only help.

 

[Mola Mola]

Day 13

Woo-hoo! Finally some movement, nitrite clearly darker, and a slightly perceptible change in ammonia (although I'll leave it recorded as 3 ppm for now).

ammonia - 3 ppm
nitrite - 0.5 ppm
nitrate - 3 ppm

Got my fingers crossed for a big jump tomorrow!

Thanks for all of the support and encouragement so far. Much appreciated

 

[XeroTolerance]

Congrats! Now you actually have some movement you could expect a rapid progress (at least it was for me) in the next few days. My Nitrate seems to grow 5ppm daily so hopefully in the next few days it will push the Nitrite back on the scale or I'll have to do a pwc to bring the Nitrite levels down and dose a little less to give the Nitrate some time to catch up.

Good luck now that you have movement! Let us toast to a fast cycle!!!

 

[Mola Mola]

Good luck now that you have movement! Let us toast to a fast cycle!!!

Thanks very much, I'll drink to that!

 

[XeroTolerance]

Good times...

 

[Mola Mola]

Day 14

Seeing some definite movement today, ammonia definitely down, and nitrite and nitrate very noticeably up.

ammonia - 1.5 ppm
nitrite - 5 ppm
nitrate - 7 ppm

I'm considering re-dosing with ammonia. Wonder if anybody has any thoughts on this. Thanks.