Newbie - Cycling

[cramman]

Right then. I have started up a new tank, on Sunday.

Checked the Amonia and Nitrite today (Wed) and nothing. No change at all.

So then, am I just being impatient?

Also, I added some Tetra Aqua when I first starthed, 50l tanks so 50 ml. The water is still quiet blue. Is this ok? Also, it smells a bit chemically, chlorine ish.
My heater arrived broken but a new one will be installed tomorrow, this may help things along.

Can mature filter media be posted? Anyone fancy sending some up. The person on here close to me hasn't been active in a while.

Cheers,

Cramman

 

[lilacamy931]

Hello the Aqua safestart can be a bit of a hit and miss product, it didnt work for me and I ended up with a fish in cycle which is not the best way to go. You really need some mature media filter to cultivate the bacteria and also will need to feed the bacteria with some ammonia based product (pure ammonia solution, rotting prawn, etc).

Here is a link that you can search for members in local area that may be able to help with media situation:
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=150631"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=150631[/URL]

Here is a good link on the fishless cycle:
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861[/URL]

There may be no ammonia/nitrites as not feeding beneficial bacteria and also the bottle product did not work.

p.s not sure on posting media, hopefully someone can help you out! Also where abouts are you based just so people know and may be near enough to drop off?

 

[Rooster]

Right then. I have started up a new tank, on Sunday.

Checked the Amonia and Nitrite today (Wed) and nothing. No change at all.

So then, am I just being impatient?

Also, I added some Tetra Aqua when I first starthed, 50l tanks so 50 ml. The water is still quiet blue. Is this ok? Also, it smells a bit chemically, chlorine ish.
My heater arrived broken but a new one will be installed tomorrow, this may help things along.

Can mature filter media be posted? Anyone fancy sending some up. The person on here close to me hasn't been active in a while.

Cheers,

Cramman

Are you trolling If not I suggest you reread the bottle AND the stickies on cycling... and start again.

 

[cramman]

Are you trolling If not I suggest you reread the bottle AND the stickies on cycling... and start again.

Apolgies if I came across that way, can't see how tho. Not trolling at all. Don't really understand why people do that and personally I couldn't be bothered.

Sorry. Totally new to this and don't understand what I have done wrong. I added the aqua safe stuff as advised, I thought this had to be done to remove chemicals in the tap water, chlorine for example.

Then, stated with the fishless cylce as in the sticky, going for the add and wait method. Added my amonia on Sunday upto 5ppm and nothing has changed. I was just after clarification that I had at least started right.

 

[yasinullah]

the tetra aqua safe is 5ml per 10 litres surely, so you have added far too much? its recommended that you add 1.5X the normal amount recommended during cycling, just in case there's more than the usual amount of chlorine etc in your tap water. When I added at the recommended dose the water did look slightly blue. But you've added 10X the amount it seems, was it definitely 50ml you added?

you need to purchase ammonia and feed the little bacteria available in your tank water to get them colonising and growing. You will not see any ammonia in your tank, unless a little is present in you tap water supply, if the former is true nitrites you wont see at all as its a product of the A-bacs processing the ammonia.

Even without mature media a tank may cycle under 2 months. Perhaps try asking your local fish shop, mine swiftly directed me to the magical bottled bacteria stuff, that rarely seem to work, if ever.

 

[doktor doris]

OP, have you read the fishles cycling advice? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

The reason the above poster thought you were trolling was because your question doesn't make any sense.

How much NH3 did you put in your tank?

 

[cramman]

Your right, I'm officially a complete [Mod Edit] idiot!

Ok then. I've added 50ml instead of 25, correct?

Or, in other words, I've added enough to treat 100 litres. Therefore, do you think I would be ok to remove half of the water and then top it up with fresh tap water?

To clarify, I'm a fool.

That's what happens when you do these things with a massive hang over.

 

[yasinullah]

Your right, I'm officially a complete [Mod Edit] idiot!

Ok then. I've added 50ml instead of 25, correct?

Or, in other words, I've added enough to treat 100 litres. Therefore, do you think I would be ok to remove half of the water and then top it up with fresh tap water?

To clarify, I'm a fool.

That's what happens when you do these things with a massive hang over.

not sure on that one, members on here always say never add more than 2X the dosage, and you've added 2X, I think I'd wait for a more experienced member to reply
sorry!
be sure to get hold of some ammonia ASAP though!!

 

[cramman]

Thanks for your help. Hopefully someone will be along soon.

And, I have my ammonia, starpax ammonia, 10% solution, so at least I have that right - I hope.

I'm sure adding double the dose when fish are present will be bad news, hopefully it'll be ok before cycling. Fingers crossed.

 

[Rooster]

Now thats established !
Lets crack on....

Aquasafe "deals" with ammonia, and you have over dosed it 100% !!!!
I would strip it down and start again... Do you have a liquid test kit ? If not, then you are wasting your time with a fishless cycle... you need to KNOW you have the correct dose of ammonia.

Get yourself an API "master kit" as its more economical than individual test kits..

Not familiar with your ammonia, but do check that it is ONLY ammonia, i.e. nothing else such as perfume or surfactants etc.

PLEASE read the cycle stickies, as all this is very well described, and is the most acceptable way of establishing an aquarium.... and is the preferred method on this forum ! Not only is the "fishless cycle" better for the fish, Im convinced it avoids a future of potential problems - all it takes is some patience !

 

[cowboy507]

Now thats established !
Lets crack on....

Aquasafe "deals" with ammonia, and you have over dosed it 100% !!!!
I would strip it down and start again... Do you have a liquid test kit ? If not, then you are wasting your time with a fishless cycle... you need to KNOW you have the correct dose of ammonia.

Get yourself an API "master kit" as its more economical than individual test kits..

Not familiar with your ammonia, but do check that it is ONLY ammonia, i.e. nothing else such as perfume or surfactants etc.

PLEASE read the cycle stickies, as all this is very well described, and is the most acceptable way of establishing an aquarium.... and is the preferred method on this forum ! Not only is the "fishless cycle" better for the fish, Im convinced it avoids a future of potential problems - all it takes is some patience !

i will concur with this, first you will need to read on fishless cycling, check out my signature.
then you will need to redo your tank and start over. if you have questions after reading through the cycling process (i know it is very confusing at first) post on here and we will help

 

[h4hapoo]

i'm sorry but i have to go off subject and ask what is trolling?

 

[m00se]

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

 

[cramman]

Ok then.

I have an API test kit, so that's ok.
My amonia is 10% solution. No other ingredients are listed so I think I shoul be fine. Looks fines, no foam after a shake tec.

Onto the cycle, I have read the sticky on here. But, I have added my AquaSafe, other than that it's been done as described. I just assumed this HAD to be done. Is this incorrect then.

I still have ammonia in the tanks, approx 5ppm, that was my problem, no nitrites after 3 days.

Basically - do you add AquaSafe when cycling your tank or not? If not, when does this go in?

Granted, I have added far too much

 

[martinking]

De-Chlorinator needs to be added everytime you add any tap water to your tank. Most people when cycling use 1.5X the regular dosage. SafeStart and most other "Instant Cycle Solutions" seem to be very hit and miss. Personally I didn't bother!

Your Ammonia could take around 3 days to 2 weeks to drop down, when you see the drop in Ammonia you will then see the rise in Nitrites. This is why its called the "wait and see" method!

So my advice is "wait and see", its a long road is this fishless cycling but well worth it for you (and your understanding of the biology involved in bacteria) and for your fish (no long term damage and hopefully no fatalities)

Cheers