Tank Cycling

[skimpy]

PLEASE NOTE - the record below is on a 70 litre tank, cycling with fish

I like a lot of beginners did not find this forum, knowing about fishless cycling or understand testing etc. till after I bought my first fish.

I have typed up a table of the first 45 days - It might help any beginners who find themselves in that position.

I ran the tank empty (no fish) for 7 days to let it settle and my tap water readings were PH 7.8 Am 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 10.

From day 45 onwards I have had Am 0 Nitrite 0 and Nitrate between 10 & 40 depending on when I have done my Maintenance Clean which I now do weekly. I also have green algae growing so I would say that day 45 was when the tank first matured.


Day/Detail............................................PH...Am...Nitrite...Nitrate...WaterChanges
01..Intro 1st Fish 2 x Guppy..................8......0........0........10........None
02..Waited
03..Waited
04..Waited ........... I assume I had ammonia spike in these few days but no tests were done so i have no record
05..Waited
06..Waited
07..Waited
08..........................................................8......0........1.0......10........None
09..Waited
10..Waited
11..Waited
12..........................................................8......0........1.0......10........25%
13..................................................................................................25%
14..Home Test Kit Purchased.................8....0.25.....0........10........25%
15..........................................................8......0........0........10........None
16..........................................................8......0........0........10........None
17..........................................................8....0.25.....0........10........25%
18........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
19........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
20........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
21..5 x Guppy & 1 x Bristlenose...........7.8.....0........0........10........None
22........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
23........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
24........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
25........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
26........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
27........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
28........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
29........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
30..6 x New Mollies..............................7.8.....0........0........10........None
31........................................................7.8.....0........0........10........None
32..Guppies had babies (lots)..............7.8...0.25...0.25.....10........25%
33........................................................7.6...0.25...0.25......10.......lfs said No
34........................................................7.4.....0.......0.5.......10........15%
35..Babies into Box approx 18.............7.4.....0.......0.5.......20........15%
36........................................................7.2.....0.......0.5.......20........15%
37........................................................7.2.....0......0.25......10........None
38........................................................7.2.....0......0.25......10........None
39........................................................7.2.....0......0.25......10........None
40........................................................7.2.....0......0.25......10........None
41..1 x Molly to lfs agressive................7.2.....0......0.25......15........None
42........................................................7.2.....0......0.25......20........None
43........................................................7.2.....0.......0.1.......20........None
44........................................................7.2.....0.......0.1.......20........15% Maint
45........................................................7.4.....0.........0........20........None

From this point onwards readings have only gone up and down in the Nitrate column increasing from 10 upwards until weekly water change then down again, averaging at around 20.

On day 56 I added 2 more Guppy and 4 Platy and the reading did not change at all.

Hopefully this may be helpful to some beginners - all fish tanks will show different readings at different times but seeing a pattern may help.

Good Luck to anyone starting out.

 

[corrosive]

Quite lucky, mine would be totally different to that...
First week 0 of Ammonia and Nitrite (basically)
Second week High Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, after adding 6 fish.
Third week Ammonia 0, Nitrite High.
Fourth week Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0.


Thats basically how my tank is going.

 

[skimpy]

Does anyone think this post could help beginners if it was pinned in the beginners section. I have had a few of people that I linked to this post that said they found it helpful. I know it is not the same pattern for all tanks but to see how a tank can go up and down can be reassuring to others.

What do you all think

If yes then how do I ask for it to be pinned???

 

[Vegan Peaches]

I'm a beginner, and I found it helpful ^^ I'm creating a table just like it, I like the idea of having all that info at my fingertips. Pin it

 

[skimpy]

Thanks Vegan Peaches for your vote.

Anyone else??

 

[TK Tiger]

it is very important to some people to have all the facts and to know what is going on in the tank, this forum with posts like this have helped me so much and i am sure will help many others, it can eliminate alot of doubt when you are new to tropical fish and are wondering what is going on when fish stay still or hide away or dont eat.

 

[skimpy]

Does anyone else think this could be helpful to beginners if it was pinned. If I get some votes MODs might pin it for me

 

[kev_kb]

Yes, very helpful thanks!

 

[STEVE O]

HI YA I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD HELP ME,I HAVE BEEN RUNNING MY TANK FOR 3 WEEKS NOW THE P.H IS FINE THE AMMONIA IS FINE BUT THE NITRITE IS VERY HIGH AT4.0 +.I DID A 50% WATER CHANGE BUT IT IS STILL READING BETWEEN 2.0 - 4.0,HOW CAN I GET THE LEVELS DOWN.ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT...

 

[Avaston]

I just finished my cycle this week and I had to do 2 and 3 water changes to get my nitrites down to a reasonable level (under 1ppm). I say 2 and 3 because I had to do it several times. A couple times I had to do 2 30-40% water changes 2 days in a row . Definitely doing the fishless cycle next time.

 

[skimpy]

HI YA I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD HELP ME,I HAVE BEEN RUNNING MY TANK FOR 3 WEEKS NOW THE P.H IS FINE THE AMMONIA IS FINE BUT THE NITRITE IS VERY HIGH AT4.0 +.I DID A 50% WATER CHANGE BUT IT IS STILL READING BETWEEN 2.0 - 4.0,HOW CAN I GET THE LEVELS DOWN.ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT...

As far as I know only water changes and patience will do it. If your Nitrites are currently rising in their big spike you may find that as fast and your change the water the Nitrites rise and therefore give you a reading the same as before the water change. If had going but, hand in there, it will happen in the end.

I was told that when at this stage of cycling If they are as low as 0.25 nitrites you can hold for a day or so thus enabling the nitrates increase (see day 37 of my chart at beginning of this thread). But although ammonia spike is very quick, a Nitrite spike takes quite a bit longer. This link my help explain better than me and you can see how long from their graph nitrites can take. Nitrogen Cycle

If you do try to hold off at all like I did you must test regularly (I tested twice a day during that period) to make sure it does not rise above that level. Although it may speed up the reduction of the spike remember any nitrites are toxic to the fish, so its your judgement call. My fish did survive but some will say they will not have as long a life, or may be prone to illnesses.

Best of luck and let us know how you go.