Mola Mola - Fishless Cycle Log

[Mola Mola]

It will also increase the excitement of adding new fish to multiple trips to the LFS rather than doing it all at once. My 5 year old loves it when we head off to the LFS to get a few more fish. I started off with a very low stocking level in my 56 gallon tank (about 15 fish) I've lost a few as the first 7 I got were all rescues from another tank - I still have two of those originals - and sometimes you just get a weak fish when you add some to your tank. As you can see from my sig that I now have 27. I've slowly increased that over the past three months. I would get 4 fish here, or 6 fish there. The excitement has been there EACH time we get more.

Thanks. That sounds like a great idea, I can definitely see that getting them excited!

If I do start stocking very slowly, does that make any difference to the criteria I should use for judging whether the tank is cycled? Should I be happy, say, if it can convert 1 ppm of ammonia to nitrate in 12 hours? (given that the filter needs to handle far fewer fish, and that any excess bacteria will soon "starve" anyway)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No. It is far better to have a bigger colony die back than to start with a smaller colony. A more robust colony that dies back grows back much more quickly than a small one trying to grow bigger.

I would say processing 4ppm in 12 hours should be your goal. The larger colony could survive with a smaller amount of fish.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks . I think that I will not have a platy. You made a good point saying there it is already overstocked. The only reason I would like to add my fish on Monday is because this weekend I'm going to a meeting and will be there for the rest of the next week. I don't have anyone to add ammonia to the tank. I can however change the water with this thing-a-ma-jigger I made. I talked to the guy who made that thread and he said that there won't be a nitrite spike because ammonia is released in a steady stream instead of all at once. He also said that when he used this method that there was never any spikes for him. I got a lot of the same replies from everyone else who used it too. So basically my question/statement is, when ammonia is produced in a steady stream that my bio-filter will be able to handle it easily because it is already used to processing 4ppm of ammonia in 24 hours. Also the stocking that I have I don't think will produce 4ppm of ammonia at once if I do water changes every 3 days.

IMHO, the worst thing you could do is add fish to a partially cycled tank and then leave them to fend for themselves for a few days. First, some fish can die just from the stress of transporting (which is why many stores offer a 7 day or longer guarantee). If a fish were to die early on, it would become a huge ammonia source for your tank and poison the rest of your fish. Second, you want to be there to test the water to ensure what is going on with the levels.


I agree that a nitrite spike may not happen, because of the continual ammonia release by the fish. BUT, an ammonia spike is possible, and then of course, a nitrite spike would also be possible after that. You want to be there to see that the levels are secure. Also, you have created this contraption to change the water for you in your absence? Well, if you trust that to properly change your water without your supervision, why not just dose the contraption with a bit of ammonia to tick over the tank in your absence? I understand the impatience about getting fish, but there are other options. One would be to simply place a single dead shrimp into the tank while you are away. It will release ammonia to the water as it rots and that will keep your bacteria going while you are away. Remove the shrimp when you return, complete a water change to get the water levels back where you want them and continue your cycle. You have taken this much time already to properly prepare your tank for the fish. Don't jump the gun now. Take your time and make sure you do it right.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Ok I will do it right and start my 12 hour tests now.

 

[Mola Mola]

Day 18

ammonia - 0 ppm (re-dosed to 3 ppm)
nitrite - 4 ppm
nitrate - not tested
ph - 7.6

As expected the ammonia has been cleared again.

 

[Mola Mola]

Day 19

ammonia - 0 ppm (re-dosed to 3 ppm)
nitrite - 5 ppm
nitrate - not tested
ph - 7.6

The nitrite is a bit higher tonight, which is a little disappointing, but I suppose it is a little too early to expect anything else.

Have been so busy thinking about the tank, that I have only started actually thinking about what to stock it with today.

 

[KezJona]

Ok Eagle... after doing some research I HAVE TO BUY SOME JAVA FERN! I can't wait too get it in my tank! I hate when this happens to me...

Thanks though for the recommendation! I cant wait! . I think I'll put it on my driftwood thing. On the left hand side. Down by the rock that sticks out of it. That's where I'll tie it on. Than when it gets big I'll get some where it will look best.

I might get a fake plant to put by the filter though.

I want one of them as well But I love the dwarf hair grass, really want that in my tank!

 

[Mola Mola]

Day 20

ammonia - 0 ppm (re-dosed to 3 ppm)
nitrite - 5 ppm
nitrate - not tested
ph - 7.6

Because I was bored this evening I tested for ammonia again, 7 hours after I re-dosed, and it has all gone, so the ammonia converting bacteria seem to be well up to speed.

 

[L_Plates]

Come on Nitrite, DROP !

 

[Mola Mola]

Come on Nitrite, DROP !

Thanks L_Plates. I am sending those bacteria good thoughts too. Maybe if enough people do, they will get a move on!

 

[XeroTolerance]

Come on Nitrite, DROP!

 

[Mola Mola]

Come on Nitrite, DROP!

Thanks!

Day 21

ammonia - 0 ppm (re-dosed to 3 ppm)
nitrite - off the scale
nitrate - not tested
ph - 7.6

I have put nitrite down as off the scale, because it turns purple as soon as adding the drops (purple at the bottom of the tube). It has done this for a few days, but I have just put it down as 5 ppm.

I wonder if I should do a water change to bring the nitrite back down. I understand that if you have too much nitrite, it could be a problem.

 

[L_Plates]

W000h000 next up the drop in Nitrite.

LP

 

[XeroTolerance]

I did a 90% water change due to my pH dropping. It also seemed to boost the cycle along by giving my Nitrates the time they needed to take control of the situation and stop the nitrites from ever showing up again!

 

[Mola Mola]

I did a 90% water change due to my pH dropping. It also seemed to boost the cycle along by giving my Nitrates the time they needed to take control of the situation and stop the nitrites from ever showing up again!

Thanks. In my case the pH seems to be sticking around 7.6, so I suppose that is OK for now. I thought I read somewhere that too much nitrite can also be a problem (I don't quite understand the mechanics of that).

From my second test yesterday, it seems that the bacteria are clearing the 3ppm of ammonia in less than 7 hours, so that gives the nitrite converters a good 17 hours to work on any new nitrite produced. I suppose that's good because it means that the work of the nitrite converters is not being masked by slow conversion of the ammonia, but it could be currently masked by the high amount of nitrite present.

I suppose that doing a very big water change, should clear the nitrite backlog, and give me an indication of how fast the nitrite conversion is happening. However, if a lot of nitrite isn't a problem, then doing the water change isn't going to speed up the process, just perhaps show how far along it is.

So if a large amount of nitrite isn't going to slow the process, I suppose I will just leave it alone.