Tankless Fishless Cycling

[Gvilleguy]

I got to meet an actual forum member in person today! Pretty cool. I only know of three of us within a few hundred miles of each other.

You're welcome, Robby - I hope the used sponge helps kick start the ole bucket cycle!

 

[drobbyb]

24 hours later and the ammonia has gone from 4.0 ppm to a little lighter green than what the color card shows for 4.0 ppm. I was expecting a 48 hour bounce back, but it seems that they are already making a difference. It's not enough yet to show a result on the nitrite card though.


Day 9

Temp: 82 F
Ammonia: >4 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
pH: 8.2

 

[waterdrop]

Feel like I should have been there. Hey, you guys don't realize it but RDD himself is also near to us. We keep missing each other schedule-wise but he gave me some good summaries of Charlotte shops and the like. It's just great that you have a tank again robby.

WD

 

[drobbyb]

Yeah, I find myself missing it terribly. I dunno, some people get fish and are content just to keep them alive. I pay very close attention to my fish observing their behavior, condition, etc. It's just a passion, and I get a great sense of accomplishment from it. It's very positive for me.


We should all take a trip to the Atlanta aquarium this summer. I've never been there myself.

 

[waterdrop]

O, it's awesome! The whole convention went there together during the Atlanta AGA and I was lucky enough to be with a guy, Dave M., who owns a shop down in Florida and is just amazing with his salt knowledge. It was like being in oceanography class all over again, lol. WD

 

[Gvilleguy]

I agree - the GA Aquarium is simply awesome.

 

[drobbyb]

I've encountered an odd test result. I tested all values twice just to be sure.

Ammonia has dropped to 2 ppm, no nitrite reading, and 5.0 ppm nitrate reading. I tested the tap again just to ensure my results were valid and the result was 0 ppm.

Do you think it is possible that there are more N-bacs than A-bacs in the donated media, or that more of them survived the transition from tank to bucket?

 

[Gvilleguy]

This is very familiar. I think the exact same thing happened when I took media from the same filter and started cycling a new one!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, I've noticed it several times with donated media cases, the N-Bacs start processing through to nitrate sooner than you think! WD

 

[drobbyb]

Well, there is definitely some activity. My ammonia dropped to 1.0 ppm last night and there was a slight nitrite reading, not enough to measure, but the solution inside was slightly purple. It seems as if the faster reproducing A-bacs have caught up with the slower N-bacs.

I re-dosed ammonia, and added another filter, this one belongs to my buddy who has been trying to fishless cycle his tank since before Christmas unsuccessfully. I might as well cycle it for him since he doesn't like to follow directions

 

[Gvilleguy]

Your statement about cycling your buddy's tank since he didn't want to follow directions made me laugh! I'm glad your cycle is moving along.

 

[drobbyb]

I swapped my filters and media into my 30G tank yesterday. I topped up with 4.0 ppm ammonia, added bicarb to the water to raise the pH, and let it sit.

Measurements as of today:

Ammonia: 2.0ppm
Nitrite: >5 ppm
Nitrate: 30 ppm ±


I also added an aquaclear 50 to the tank and added some mature media to it's basket.

This cycle is progressing fast thanks to Gvilleguy's media Thanks again!

 

[Gvilleguy]

I bet that Aquaclear 50 rocks. I have the Aquaclear 20 and I love how well it keeps the water clear.

 

[drobbyb]

Ammonia was at .25 this morning, nitrite off the scale, and nitrates about the same as yesterday, between 30 and 40 ppm. pH has fallen to 7.6, I gotta take a trip to the store to get some bicarb.

 

[drobbyb]

Ammonia was .25 ppm in 14 hours, nitrate way off the scale, nitrates still between 30 and 40.

I performed a 50% water change and re-dosed with ammonia, don't want those nitrites to get too high