Si's Fishless Cycle

[JoshuaA]

I think all the API tests are like that, the only good one is the High Range pH I think. Nitrate goes back and forth through colours going up the chart, Nitrite has 3 readings almost identical. pH swings oddly between colours and is actually sometimes easy to read. The Nitrate though has got to the worst to read.

Though that Copper one looks pretty bad too, However... if you have problems just test one from your cold and one from you warm and if you see any noticeable difference then there is copper present. Or you might find you have it in both taps haha!

Yeh the B'Rams need a lot more room but with the tank I have in mind and will be preparing for in the the near future will easily accommodate them. I would really like to get the pH swings out of the way first! Nitrite is weirdly like off the scale at 12 + hours and then 18 hours its completely gone. Don't know if the test is just naff at reading anything about 0.5 lol however this has happened consistently for a few days now.

 

[PDSimon]

That nitrite reading is normal, keeps doing that to me, off the scale then shortly afterwards 0...I hate the nitrite colour card as well Driving me mad, I want some fish already!!! 52 days

I compared cold water and to hot water and it confused matters more so. The cold water was completely transparent(just like water... is anyway) and the warm water had a yellow tint! but a yellow tint could be 0 or 0.25. confusing.................

I think i'm just going to do it anyway, and to be safe i'll do a cold water change right at the end of the cycle with boiling water to temp match just incase there is any copper. Then most future waterchanges will be cold water anyway because they wont be full 100%!

Sounds ok for your stocking, if your definately going to get a bigger tank

 

[JoshuaA]

That nitrite reading is normal, keeps doing that to me, off the scale then shortly afterwards 0...I hate the nitrite colour card as well Driving me mad, I want some fish already!!! 52 days

I compared cold water and to hot water and it confused matters more so. The cold water was completely transparent(just like water... is anyway) and the warm water had a yellow tint! but a yellow tint could be 0 or 0.25. confusing.................

I think i'm just going to do it anyway, and to be safe i'll do a cold water change right at the end of the cycle with boiling water to temp match just incase there is any copper. Then most future waterchanges will be cold water anyway because they wont be full 100%!

Sounds ok for your stocking, if your definately going to get a bigger tank

Pretty sure I will be getting a bigger tank when I move into the new flat however until I'm sure we won't be getting a Bol' Ram just in case something happens to prevent a new home for him/her.

Well... the boiling water will undoubtedly add some metal to the water if you wanted to be super safe, get some conical flasks and boil your water so that you get pure water vapour or almost pure lol.

I still believe that for fish you won't have a problem though for Snails/Shrimp or any invertebrates you would likely have problems.

However it does obviously sound like you have some copper in the warm water. How much did the test cost you?

 

[PDSimon]

I tested the tank and it was 0ppm copper after 99% water change

Quite costly at a tenner... But now i know, and this tank and any future tanks can all be done easily. I think my parents want a aquarium now

 

[JoshuaA]

I think my parents want a aquarium now

Has the concept of a cycle got them pulled in has it?

 

[PDSimon]

They think I'm mad. My dad keeps telling me to put fish in it already

They want fish though, it'll be easy for them. Basically they're seeing what I do, then if it works they'll get me to do it!

 

[JoshuaA]

They think I'm mad. My dad keeps telling me to put fish in it already

They want fish though, it'll be easy for them. Basically they're seeing what I do, then if it works they'll get me to do it!

Sounds good, You can also always a few months down the line when your filter has settled in give them a chunk of your "mature" media. Nice kickstart, can't remember what filter your using but I imagine transferring those "Biomax Nodes" Would be a fantastic way of transferring our beloved bacteria to them.

 

[PDSimon]

I know My brother (he doesn't live with us) game me some mature media. Didn't seem to help with nitrites at all though...

 

[PDSimon]

nitrites 0.5 after 12 hours now, getting close! waterchange must have done it some good

 

[JoshuaA]

nitrites 1 after 12 hours now, getting close! waterchange must have done it some good

The water change we did actually put Nitrites in a readable level for the first time haha! Then it was always readable. I would say the media donation from Assaye really sped this cycle up as we were seeing Nitrites dropping within days afterwards of putting it in.

I also decided to do a Nitrite test just after adding Ammonia and 30mins after we dosed the tank there was 2ppm of Nitrite already, our lil A-Bacs working fast Needs to be 10.8ppm of nitrite!... the problem could possibly be the Ammonia Bacterias not processing it fast enough for the N-Bacs to process it within the 12 hours. I wonder if using a larger dosage of around 5/6ppm when you have both bacteria s will actually increase their population sufficiently when you drop it down to the normal 4/5 that they process in 12 hours.

Also noticed our pH is hanging around 7.6 now not as annoying as it was last time hasn't crashed... Yet.

 

[waterdrop]

Hopefully will be able to do a nice little setup like you have there

Cheers for the help

No worries, any questions fire away

I'm still looking for a way to have a T junction as I think that will work better than using the Y connectors, more flow maybe

The taps I have are just one tap that you twist for hot and cold so I wouldn't even need a junction to put water into the tank... I just need a good fitting to fit the awkward shaped taps.

I saw some cheap hose (My link) says no hot water though?

edit: what you want? - My link

Hi Si,
I just thought I would pop by as I'm cycled lol I got a 45ltr yellow bucket from Wicks £5.00 if that's any good for you? I use a bowl (marked at 4ltr's) to fill it then condition in yellow bucket with spare pump (£3.00 from eBay)to help mix, then stright into tank using bowl again! I have the same problem as you with a mixer tap
I'm off to get some hardy gold tetra tomorrow as I'm 00 in less than 8hrs now !
Oh did you google GCWC ?

Clint.

I've seen those in Tescos, although I got £1 buckets from b&Q which are enough for manual waterchanges, i'm just being lazy

You might want to give it a couple more days to ensure the bacteria are cycling. Waterdrop, OD47 etc sort of developed this 'stabilisation week' where you cycle it for 4-7 or so days ensuring it cycles the ammonia in 12 hours. Maybe your ok not to, I would get some support though.

Still don't know what WD meant by the GCWC thing...

GCWC - Gravel-Clean-Water-Change

 

[PDSimon]

nitrites 1 after 12 hours now, getting close! waterchange must have done it some good

The water change we did actually put Nitrites in a readable level for the first time haha! Then it was always readable. I would say the media donation from Assaye really sped this cycle up as we were seeing Nitrites dropping within days afterwards of putting it in.

I also decided to do a Nitrite test just after adding Ammonia and 30mins after we dosed the tank there was 2ppm of Nitrite already, our lil A-Bacs working fast Needs to be 10.8ppm of nitrite!... the problem could possibly be the Ammonia Bacterias not processing it fast enough for the N-Bacs to process it within the 12 hours. I wonder if using a larger dosage of around 5/6ppm when you have both bacteria s will actually increase their population sufficiently when you drop it down to the normal 4/5 that they process in 12 hours.

Also noticed our pH is hanging around 7.6 now not as annoying as it was last time hasn't crashed... Yet.

My media didn't work all that well no idea why...it was half a whole u2 filter crammed into my U3 lol.

That is quick, I think my nitrites are lagging as the ammonia started cycling 5ppm in 12 hours in like a day or maybe two.

GCWC - Gravel-Clean-Water-Change

lol WD, I remember being confused on here a couple months back because I didn't know what WD meant!



Trying to plan out this week now...
If tomorrow is 0ppm after 12 hours (it better be )

I am free on sunday, monday, wednesday, and friday afternoon....

So I can either plant on monday and get fish on wednesday (4 days of cycling)
or plant wednesday and get fish on friday afternoon (6 days of cycling)

I could plant on saturday and get fish on sunday but thats a whole other week... I don't think I can handle another week.

Stocking with

2 bolivian rams and 8 kuhli loach to start off with


also...not really important but I ended up at this fish place with my parents today, and there was a 240 or 260 fluval bowfront limited edition which they were keen on, they couldn't decied where they'd put it. They're definately going to get one once they see mine finished

 

[kaivalagi]

also...not really important but I ended up at this fish place with my parents today, and there was a 240 or 260 fluval bowfront limited edition which they were keen on, they couldn't decied where they'd put it. They're definately going to get one once they see mine finished

Make sure they see a bowfront with fish in first, they might not like the result...I would personally got standard rectangular...

 

[PDSimon]

also...not really important but I ended up at this fish place with my parents today, and there was a 240 or 260 fluval bowfront limited edition which they were keen on, they couldn't decied where they'd put it. They're definately going to get one once they see mine finished

Make sure they see a bowfront with fish in first, they might not like the result...I would personally got standard rectangular...

Yeah there were some there with fish in... Now I know about fish keeping a bit more, the prices are crazy...second hand stuff is so cheap. So many good owners on here i'd be inclined to buy from one of them... much cheaper and still good quality.

 

[PDSimon]

I'll be adding some amano shrimp too... I forgot they eat fish food, sinking pellets etc