Question About My Fishless Cycling

[backtotropical]

That sound just fine Sarah. The nitrite processing bacteria, as RDD1952 said, will take longer to colonise your filter. It will usually take 1 - 2 weeks for them to even start processing the nitrite (at least to any measurable degree).

Stick at it, you've not long to go.

Cheers

BTT

 

[SarahB]

That sound just fine Sarah. The nitrite processing bacteria, as RDD1952 said, will take longer to colonise your filter. It will usually take 1 - 2 weeks for them to even start processing the nitrite (at least to any measurable degree).

Stick at it, you've not long to go.

Cheers

BTT

thanks for your reply , and to rDD1952 , it's nice when people are so helpful .

as long as it is going in the right direction . also im going on holiday for a weekend in 2 weeks and was hoping it would be all finished by then so my housemate could just check on the fish instead of worrying about the cycling etc .

do you have any idea how long it possibly could take from now ?

am i right in thinking now , when the nitrite drops and ammonia and nitrite are dropping to 0 in 10 - 12 hours it is cycled , and then i do a 90% water change then add my fish ( after acclimatising them etc )

 

[backtotropical]

That sound just fine Sarah. The nitrite processing bacteria, as RDD1952 said, will take longer to colonise your filter. It will usually take 1 - 2 weeks for them to even start processing the nitrite (at least to any measurable degree).

Stick at it, you've not long to go.

Cheers

BTT

thanks for your reply , and to rDD1952 , it's nice when people are so helpful .

as long as it is going in the right direction . also im going on holiday for a weekend in 2 weeks and was hoping it would be all finished by then so my housemate could just check on the fish instead of worrying about the cycling etc .

do you have any idea how long it possibly could take from now ?

am i right in thinking now , when the nitrite drops and ammonia and nitrite are dropping to 0 in 10 - 12 hours it is cycled , and then i do a 90% water change then add my fish ( after acclimatising them etc )

Spot on. Each cycle is different, but at a guess, i'm pretty sure you'll be cycled within 2 weeks. Good luck!

 

[SarahB]

thanks for your help .

at least there will be light at the end of the tunnel eventually .

plenty of time to learn about some fish then lol . you don't realise how much you actually learn about fishless cycling until your doing it .

 

[SarahB]

you may think im being a little impatient but i have just done an 80% water change as my water was stained with tannins , and i thought maybe it could help lower my nitrites which are still off the chart . (kept filter wet in tank water )

i tested teh nitrites again and they are still off the chart ??

this is really fustrating me now

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

Don't let it frustrate you. If you've done a 80% change and nitrite is still off the chart, it must have been sky high to begin with.

Try another change of the same size tomorrow. If that doesn't bring it down to a measurable level, maybe your test kit is faulty?

Cheers

BTT

 

[rdd1952]

I've never had a way to measure it but I seriously think nitrite probably reaches 50+ ppm at it's peak. Just 20 ppm would still show 5 ppm after a 80% WC.

 

[Seed]

I've never had a way to measure it but I seriously think nitrite probably reaches 50+ ppm at it's peak. Just 20 ppm would still show 5 ppm after a 80% WC.

Quick question, slightly off topic. The first time the tank drops to zero nitrite, do you think it is it still necessary to keep cycling the tank until the nitrite and ammonia process in 12 hours? I'm curious, because if the bacteria cycle 20+ PPM in 24 hours, it seems like at that point they'd be able to handle a load of fish. What do you think?

 

[rdd1952]

Probably not but in most cases, when it drops, you aren't ready to get fish the next day anyway so you still need to feed the bacteria. It's mainly just precaution and to hold the bacteria until the fish go in.

 

[Seed]

Ahh cool. Thanks for the reply.

I have to give you a thanks in general. This forum has been a trememdous resource for me. Even though I have a few years fish keeping experience, I had never heard of this method. It has been a godsend in setting up my two new tanks.

 

[rdd1952]

You're very welcome. It really is a great place. So much knowledge in one place, regardless of what type fish you have/want.

 

[SarahB]

I've never had a way to measure it but I seriously think nitrite probably reaches 50+ ppm at it's peak. Just 20 ppm would still show 5 ppm after a 80% WC.

the highest reading on my colour chart for liquid test kit is 3.3

 

[SarahB]

i thought i would keep to this thread as will make it a bit easier . i havent been writing down my recordings as nothing changed , adding ammonia to 4.9ppm.

i just checked my kit , and have no ammonia ( normal until i add daily ) , 0 nitrite , and slight nitrate .


i thought i would check nitrate to see , as it should be high shouldnt it ? but i have chnaged water and substrate about a week ago .

i just added ammonia up to 4.9ppm , and checked with kit , and showing ammonia fine .

does this mean im nearly cycled ??

so i just got to wait for it to process ammonia and nitrite in 12 hours ??

 

[SarahB]

just checked nitrite and it has rose a little bit . i guess as the ammonia is processing . as i just added it up to 4.9


am i nearly cycled guys ?

 

[andrew84uk]

Sarah, you have to be patient. Mine has roughly been cycling since Sataday with very little change but there has been some change in tank stats. My tank is cloudy now alittle too, which means bacteria is feasting. Yum!

If you can cycle 4ppm ammonia in 12 hours and you tested withint 12 hours your ammonia has gone to 0ppm then your sorted.