New Tank, New Fishless Cycle!

[mishka83]

This is an upgrade, and continuation of a previous fishless cycle. The SAME external filter is being used, changed over within a few hours. Temperature is always 29oC

Previous Tank: Aqua One Aquastart 500 (65l)

New Tank: Juwel Vision 180

I was on day 16 of the fishless cycle in the previous tank, the results are as follows:

Day 1: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 0 , pH: 7.8
Day 2: Ammonia:5, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: - , pH: 7.8
Day 3: Ammonia:4, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: - , pH: -
Day 4: Ammonia:3, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 5: Ammonia:2, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: -, pH: 7
Day 6: Ammonia:1, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: -, pH: 7
Day 7: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.10, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 8: Ammonia:0.25, Nitrite: 0.30, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 9: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.50, Nitrate: 10, pH: 6.8
Day 10: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.50, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 11: Ammonia, Nitrite: 0.50, Nitrate: -, pH
Day 12: Ammonia:5, Nitrite: 0.50, Nitrate: 50, pH: 6
Day 13: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.30, Nitrate: -, pH: 6
Day 14: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.50, Nitrate: -, pH: 6.8
Day 15: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.50, Nitrate: -, pH: 6.8
Day 16: Ammonia:0, Nitrite: 0.70, Nitrate: off scale, pH: 6.8

Day 16:
Ammonia: 0ppm, dropping to 0 every 7 hours.
Nitrite: 0.70
Nitrate: Off The Scale
pH: 6.8 (using bicarb as it kept going to 6 and below).

Here is my new, continued fishless cycle:

Day 1: Ammonia:3, Nitrite: 0.25, Nitrate: 10, pH: 6.8 (added bicarb)
Day 2: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 2), Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: - , pH: 7.2
Day 3: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 2), Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 4: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 4), Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 0, pH: 7.2
Day 5: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 3), Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 6: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 3.5), Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: -, pH: -
Day 7: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 4), Nitrite: 0 , Nitrate: 0, pH: 7.2
Day 8: Ammonia:0 (dosed to 4), Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 0 . pH: 7.2
Day 9: Ammonia:0(dosed to 4), Nitrite: 0 , Nitrate , pH: -

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

You are cycling the filter and not the tank.
Your previous testing results are still important and valid.

Congrats on new tank.

 

[mishka83]

doh! lol, i will edit and add them

loving the new tank so far, glad to be back to a big tank.

 

[mishka83]

First double zero readings today!!! WOO HOO!!!

Don't want to get my hopes up but looking good!!

Double joy today, my daughter's 6th birthday.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Its even better when the double zeros are at 12hrs!
Just stick your dosing on the log as well.
Hopefully testing at 12hrs soon.

 

[mishka83]

Double zeros after 12 hours (last night), and double zeros again this morning

Am i right in saying that an 100% water change must be carried out, or is that just for removing high levels of nitrate? What if my nitrate is very low?

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Am i correct in assuming that initially you were dosing 4-5ppm.?
Then you dropped it to 2-3ppm?

Once your nitrite is 0ppm in 24hrs, you should raise the dosing back up to 4-5ppm and then wait for the nitrite to drop to 0ppm in 12hrs together with the ammonia.

 

[waterdrop]

I'm confused that the latest posts don't seem to match up with the columns of log entries?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm confused that the latest posts don't seem to match up with the columns of log entries?

It is confusing, but only the days above the bolded line, and the bolded line are active. The ones below the bolded line are not real data, they are just there for some reason. It would be easier to read if they were either blanked out (rather than showing false numbers) or if they were just deleted and added as needed.

 

[mishka83]

Ok, sorted.

I will dose ammonia back up to 4/5ppm tomorrow morning and see where it stands after 12 and 24 hours.

 

[waterdrop]

ok, I understand it better now, thanks

 

[mishka83]

Day 3 of double zero readings!!

I've dosed the ammonia higher today, adding 8ml which will bring it to 4ppm.

I'll test in 12 hours and see what the results are.

Think i'm pretty much decided on the fish i'm going to buy, currently saving for the juwel stone background. Need to do that before any fish go in.

 

[Tizer]

Think i'm pretty much decided on the fish i'm going to buy, currently saving for the juwel stone background. Need to do that before any fish go in.

It also needs 24 hours for the silicone you use to stick it in to dry meaning your filter will need to sit in a bucket for a day.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Day 3 of double zero readings!!

I've dosed the ammonia higher today, adding 8ml which will bring it to 4ppm.

I'll test in 12 hours and see what the results are.

Think i'm pretty much decided on the fish i'm going to buy, currently saving for the juwel stone background. Need to do that before any fish go in.

Good stuff!

 

[mishka83]

I added 8ml of Ammonia yesterday morning, and in 12 hours Ammonia was 0.25, Nitrite was 0.5.

This morning Ammonia and Nitrite were 0. I added 6ml of Ammonia, and will test again in 12 hours.

Not quite there yet but almost...