Started my Fishless cycle

[AlexT]

I phoned Tropco about their Goop, As I live in Scotland and know I have soft water I need to find out what my KH reading is. If it is above 4 then I am good to go. My Ammonia is 4ppm. The ideal ammonia would be 2ppm but it will work at 4 ppm just take a bit longer.
Sod’s Law my KH will show up lower than 4 when I get it tomorrow
Alex you could give it ago

Well it would like even if it is below 4, then because bicarbonate of soda is very safe for fish, very effective, works quick, and is cheap, so that can still be used during the cycling Dermot.

Did you actually order the bacteria yet? I will trial it yes as well, we can start it at same time. I will get my ammonia up to 2ppm. You can do a water change to bring to down to 2ppm before you ad d the bacteria. We will have different tanks sizes, and PH but still be interesting

 

[Dermot40]

I will test the KH level of my tap water to see what difference adding bicarb into tank

 

[Essjay]

Bicarbonate of soda is only for fishless cycling. It should not be used when there are fish in the tank. The 'soda' part is sodium and no soft water fish have evolved to cope with sodium in the water.

Once there are fish in the tank, provided they are soft water fish, they don't need a high KH and if the pH drifts downwards, soft water fish prefer a low pH.


There are two reasons for adding bicarbonate of soda during cycling only
The bacteria grow faster at high pH, and bicarb increases pH. The bacteria will grow at low pH but the person doing the cycle is likely to get very frustrated with how long it takes.
The bacteria need inorganic carbon to multiply quickly. Inorganic carbon is carbonate and bicarbonate, which is what bicarbonate of soda is.




We have members who use reverse osmosis water for their fish as their tap water is very hard and they want to keep soft water fish. Reverse osmosis water has zero hardness and zero KH. Their pH drifts downwards then stabilises. They have no trouble doing water changes with water which has a higher pH.

 

[Lcc86]

I have messaged the company to as advice. They also deliver fish but look pricy

I'm not affiliated with Trop Co in any way but have bought all my fish/frogs from them (25ish total) and only lost 2. I bought some in person as it's driveable for me but also had some delivered and was very happy with the condition they arrived in.

I haven't used the Goop but am aware of others here who have and had reported good results.

 

[Dermot40]

I have tested my tank water and tap water for KH
KH 2 Tap Water.
KH 5 Tank Water.
the company that’s sells Goop. Said it works with KH 4 +. If I add new water with water change will I need to keep adding crushed coral. I think tank water is reading 5 is because I added bicarb to increase PH level. So so complicated.
I don’t want to waste money buying the Goop if it will crash my tank at every water change.
Can someone give me any advice.

 

[AlexT]

I have tested my tank water and tap water for KH
KH 2 Tap Water.
KH 5 Tank Water.
the company that’s sells Goop. Said it works with KH 4 +. If I add new water with water change will I need to keep adding crushed coral. I think tank water is reading 5 is because I added bicarb to increase PH level. So so complicated.
I don’t want to waste money buying the Goop if it will crash my tank at every water change.
Can someone give me any advice.

@Essjay or others, is there an easier way rather than faffing about with crushed coral so he can keep his KH at 4 or 5 during a fishless cycle if the tap water is KH of 2 ??? Thanks.

 

[Essjay]

Crushed coral will increase GH and KH and pH. It depends on the fish intended after the cycle. If soft water fish are intended, just temporarily raise the KH with bicarbonate of soda. This is only to provide inorganic carbon to the bacteria and raise the pH as the bacteria grow very slowly at low pH. Once the cycle is complete, it doesn't matter if KH is low. After cycling we are not trying to increase the numbers of bacteria as fast as possible. After cycling, the bacteria need to reproduce only to replace any bacteria which die; the total number of bacteria will remain constant and this will still happen with zero KH and low KH.

If hard water fish are needed, crushed coral can help, though crushed dolomite is better as that also contains magnesium. Or things like Rift Lake salts can be added to the new water before it's added at a water change to raise GH, KH and pH for hard water fish.

 

[Dermot40]

Votes for and against me buying the Goop. I think I will give it a go. AlexT what’s your thoughts what would you do.

 

[AlexT]

Thanks @Essjay
Well it looks like it's easy to keep on top of the KH during the fishless cycle Dermot by using the bicarbonate of soda. I would get the bacteria. I am keen to try it as well. The price doesn't seem too bad? Would be ironic if this cheaper method works

 

[Dermot40]

Yes thanks Essjay for you help again.
I have just ordered it arriving Thursday unless the say other wise. Alex you are correct I spent £30 each time I ordered seacheme Stability, Frirtz Zyme7 and Tetra safe Start with the postage. This was cheeper. Let’s hope it’s not just another con.

 

[AlexT]

I'll order some for my empty little 20 litre and use brand new filter sponge and see what it does to help cycle using pure ammonia. I won't be able to start mine until Monday or Tuesday, but will post the results.

 

[Dermot40]

I need to put my Goop into my tank on Thursday when it arrives. My Ammonia is 4ppm today. I will test Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH and KH, before I put in Goop. Staff at Tropco said 4ppm is ok, but will take longer for Ammonia to drop etc.
If this does work and I get 0 Ammonia and Nitrite readings I will add Dr Tim’s ammonia up to 2ppm and see if it drops to 0, 24hrs later.
Hope this works.
I will keep you posted of my progress good or bad.
What is the dosage of Dr Tim’s Ammonia in a 200 litre tank to go from 0 to 2ppm please Ammonia ?
Would I be correct to say 7.5ml for a 200 litre tank.

 

[AlexT]

I need to put my Goop into my tank on Thursday when it arrives. My Ammonia is 4ppm today. I will test Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH and KH, before I put in Goop. Staff at Tropco said 4ppm is ok, but will take longer for Ammonia to drop etc.
If this does work and I get 0 Ammonia and Nitrite readings I will add Dr Tim’s ammonia up to 2ppm and see if it drops to 0, 24hrs later.
Hope this works.
I will keep you posted of my progress good or bad.
What is the dosage of Dr Tim’s Ammonia in a 200 litre tank to go from 0 to 2ppm please Ammonia ?
Would I be correct to say 7.5ml for a 200 litre tank.

Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling | DrTim's Aquatics

Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling with One & Only There are many opinions about how to fishless cycle your aquarium. But they normally just confuse readers and generate more questions than answers. Below is an article explaining the process and a couple of ways to fishless cycle, which we...

www.drtimsaquatics.com

And the instructions are on the bottle

 

[Essjay]

Dr Tim's ammonium chloride says to use 4 drops per US gallon. 200 litres = 53 US gallons. 53 x 4 = 212 drops. His website says 100 drops = 5 ml so you need 10 ml plus a tiny bit extra. This amount should give a reading of just over 2 ppm.

Or use the method on here -

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Dermot40]

Thanks hope I get to that stage