Warehouses Fishless Cycling Log

[Warehouse]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I have setup my first tropical tank and am now ready to begin the fishless cycle. It seems the done thing to keep a log, so here it is. One little thing I've done differently so read on

Pre Cycle: Setup tank, added de-chlorinated water, ran with heater and filter on for 24 hours. Added Ammonia to 5ppm.

Day 1: Ammonia = 5 PH = 8.4
Day 2: Ammonia = 5 PH = 8.2
Day 3: Ammonia = 5 PH = 8.2
Day 4: Ammonia = 5 PH = 8.2
Day 5: Ammonia = 4 PH = 8.2
Day 6: Ammonia = 3 Nitrite = 5+
Day 7: Ammonia = 2 Nitrite = 5+ Nitrate = 40
Day 8: Ammonia = <1 Nitrate = 5+ (then swapped the gravel for sand)
Day 9: Ammonia = 0.25 ish Nitrite = 5+ (dosed to 4ppm Ammonia)
Day 10: Ammonia = 2 Nitrate = 5+
Day 11: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 5+ PH High = 8.2 PH = 7.6 Nitrate = <5 (user error on Nitrate on day 7?)
Day 12: Ammonia = 0.25, Nitrite = 5+
Day 13: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5+ (dosed to 4ppm Ammonia)
Day 14: Ammonia = 1-2 Nitrite = 5+
Day 15: Ammonia = 0.5 Nitrite = 5+ PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 16: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 4-5ppm Ammonia)
Day 17: Ammonia = <1 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 18: Ammonia = 0.25 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 19: Ammonia = 1-2 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 20: Ammonia = <0.25 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 21: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 0.5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 Nitrate = 40
Day 22: Ammonia = <0.25 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 23: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 0.25 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 24: Ammonia <0.25 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 25: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 0.25 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 26: Ammonia = <0.25 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 27: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 28: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 0.5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 29: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 30: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 0.5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 31: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 32: Ammonia = 1 Nitrite = 0.5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 7.4 (added 2 teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda)
Day 33: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 34: Ammonia = 0.25 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 7.4 (added 2 teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda)
Day 35: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 36: Ammonia = 0.25 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 37: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 38: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 2 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 39: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 40: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 41: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 42: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 7.8 (dosed to 3ppm Ammonia) (added 1 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda)
Day 43: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 2 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2+ (dosed to 3ppm Ammonia)
Day 44: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 45: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Day 46: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0.25 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (did not dose)
Day 47: Dosed to 5ppm AM but no test (long weekend away)
Day 48: Away (long weekend away)
Day 49: Dosed to 5ppm PM but no test (long weekend away)
Day 50: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 3ppm Ammonia)
Day 51: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
12 Hour testing begins
Day 52 am: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2
Day 52 pm: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 PH = 7.6 PH High = 8.2 (dosed to 5ppm Ammonia)
Only going to test at 12 hours from this point, consider ammonia to 5ppm every evening
Day 53 am: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = 7.4 (added 2 teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda)
Day 54 am: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5
Day 55 am: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 2 PH = 7.6 PH High = >8
Day 56 am: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = 7.6 PH High = >8
Day 57: No test
Day 58: Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 5 PH = >8



First some pictures:

Here is the new stand and tank, (Fluval Roma 125). A 4 foot tank would have literally touched both walls, so I'm glad we purchased this one.

This is where it fits into the room, it finishes the room off perfectly. No direct sunlight from that window

The external filter that I'm already happy I paid out for. Hoses now cut to a better size and no leaks!

The first test! Colours look different in the picture than through my eyes.

Yesterday was setup day. The tank was filled and a de-chlorinator added. I calculate that from internal dimensions and gravel added, the actual capacity is closer to 106 litres rather than the 125 advertised. A pot of Nutrafin Cycle came with the tank, so I added the first part of the mix before reading about fishless cycling. I have decided to carry on with the 3 days of cycle treatment just to see if it makes a difference to fishless cycle times as already posted on the forums, (though I really doubt it does anything whatsoever now)! The heater was turned on at a setting of 24 degrees.

I then spent several hours on here reading about the fishless cycling method and decided that can only be the best way to go for long term healthy fish.

Today I purchased a bottle of 9.5% household ammonia from toolstation, and an API freshwater master test kit (liquid), from Maidenhead Aquatics. This evening I added slightly over 5ml of ammonia to the tank and left it alone for about 90 minutes before taking the first water readings. Now I'm no expert with the colours yet, and against all advice I read them in artifical light, but here is what I'm sure they read.

PH = 8.4
Ammonia = just above 4
I also turned the heater up another notch to 26 degrees.

I presume today is day 1? I won't measure every day, perhaps not even every other day this week because until the ammonia starts dropping it seems a waste. Once I see some movement in ammonia readings I'll do measurements daily. As far as I can tell from the excellent articles on this site, it's a waiting game now as we choose what to stock the tank with?

 

[Gazanimal]

I'd be inclined to bump your heater up a bit more, to about 28c.

Also get the ammonia to 5ppm. Just add together how many ml of ammonia you've had to dose to get it to 5ppm, then you'll know the near exact amount to dose the next time.

Now it's time to sit on your hands & wait

Looks a nice tank.

 

[Skins]

Hello,
If you have got your ammonia to just over 4ppm then i would be inclined not to add anymore h/h ammonia, you don't want to end up near the next reading on the colour chart(8ppm). As for tank temp 29c is the sweet spot and your pH is right in the zone.

Keith.

 

[Warehouse]

Thanks Skins.

Just did the day 3 test. Ammonia is the same 4.5ish, PH dropped possibly by a very slight amount to 8.2.

One thing that's a bit of a pain is the stick on tank thermometer. It's impossible to read unless I run my finger over it, then it's visible for a few seconds. Does anyone have any recommendations for a decent thermometer, (I must admit to liking the stick on ones if they work)!

I've also started to add a couple of features to the tank. One of them , a large peice of driftwood is currently in a large bucket being boiled alive. I've read that this might lower the PH if put in to the tank? is this possible?

 

[Doc7]

The stick on thermometers are said to be relatively unreliable compared to a good ol' read-the-liquid-in-the-glass.

I use a meat thermometer and a chemistry thermometer that hooks up to my USB port on my computer (Vernier brand, "GoTemp!" model) for what it's worth.

 

[Warehouse]

Day 5: PH= 8.2 Ammonia = 4 (not sure if it's really dropped or because it's the first time I've seen the colour in daylight, but 4 is fine)

Cranked the heater up to 28ish.

Got a couple of tank bits in the week. The driftwood was put in a bucket of seriously hot water then left for 24 hours, it didn't float when put into the tank. This weekend the kids will choose a backdrop and no doubt a few in tank extras. I'm not going to put any plants in until it's almost ready for fish as I'm happy to keep it "lights off".

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with Skins, I'd keep tweeking it to 29C/84F and I just like to get those cheap spirit in glass tiny-shot-weighted floating/suctioncup thermometers because they are so cheap you can buy several and be amused checking them against each other or having them for backups of each other.

Rare for a newcomer to catch that lights-out is good, congrats on that. If the wood starts to pull that nice pH down significantly or you see significant yellow tannins then I'd consider treating the wood just like plants and leaving it for the end of the fishless cycle. You can chuck it into a translucent plastic storage box with loose fitting lid and put it somewhere semi-outdoors where it won't freeze and just let it soak more tannins out before coming back to the tank. On the other hand yours may be aged or whatever enough that you have no problem, they are all different.

The idea of ammonia dosing is to let it get all the way down to zero ppm before triggering a "re-dose" day. However, we do find it "sticks" sometimes down at 0.25 and below and so now we just tell people to redose if it does that. You only ever dose on your "add-hour" which is an hour (out of the 24 hours of the day) which you have determined also has a good hour for you that is 12 hours opposite. In other words, you want one in the morning where you haven't left for work or school yet that corresponds to one 12 hours later at which time you are usually back home. All of this is rough of course and you'll rarely really accomplish it like a clock as real life will get in the way. You won't need this "12-hour" testing time until much later in the 3rd phase of the fishless cycle, but it's just handy to think it up now so that the whole thing ends up being very "regularized" as it is my feeling this helps some in interpreting the trends you see in your log.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Joshwainwright]

I'm currently cycling the exact same tank as this.

Unfortunately, I don't have any mature media. I was just wondering, have you added mature media or are you starting fresh?

 

[waterdrop]

I don't think Warehouse has mentioned any mature media although it's always easy to miss a sentence like that! WD

 

[Warehouse]

I'm currently cycling the exact same tank as this.

Unfortunately, I don't have any mature media. I was just wondering, have you added mature media or are you starting fresh?

Hi Josh, starting fresh without any mature media. The only thing I did do was add the cycle treatment that came with the tank, I did this over 3 days.

Today's test are a little "strange". Here's a picture of my tests.

Ammonia appears to be down to 2, so things are happening, unfortunately Nitrite is over 5, (first time I've measured for Nitrite). I thought "wow, that's a little high", so I measured again with the same result. I also tested the tap water to see if it was giving me a head start on Nitrite, but nothing.

I'm wondering now if I either had more than 5ppm of Ammonia in there, (the first test was quite dark), or if the cycle treatment has caused the Nitrite? As I'm typing this out I just took a quick look at gazanimals cycle log and 5 does appear to pop up suddenly. Oh well, looks like it's a test every day now until Ammonia hits 0.

 

[Joshwainwright]

It's not advised to add the cycle treatment issued with the tank as it doesn't contain beneficial bacteria but only messes with your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Nevermind though, your tank should sort itself out.

I'm on the third day of my cycle without mature media and the ammonia level hasn't budged!

 

[Warehouse]

It's not advised to add the cycle treatment issued with the tank as it doesn't contain beneficial bacteria but only messes with your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Nevermind though, your tank should sort itself out.

I'm on the third day of my cycle without mature media and the ammonia level hasn't budged!

Yeah I read that the day after I added the treatment! Thought s*d it, might as well carry on now. It will be interesting to compare our 2 sets of results on the same size tank with yours a clean start and mine with the cycle added. Probably a coincidence but my ammonia seemed to drop quickly the day after I put the temperature up to 28-ish and set the spray bar on the external filter to ripple the water a lot more than it was doing before?

 

[Joshwainwright]

The beneficial bacteria does multiply faster at around 30˚C but seeing as it is so early then yes, it is probably just coincidence. I'm not too sure about the effect of the rippling surface.

I haven't been recording my results in my journal so far as nothing interesting has happened however I will in later stages so we can see what happens then. I may also upload the excel document I have been recording everything in.

 

[Warehouse]

Day 7: Thought I'd run a full set of tests just for the h*ll of it.

Ammonia = 2-ish maybe a tad under, Nitrite = 5+, Nitrate = 40, PH = 8.2

Took a wander to the LFS and made notes of the fish we liked, then looked them all up here for compatibility, adult size etc. What made me laugh was that I didn't realise you could buy fish online, (my Wife still won't believe it). Plants I can understand, but how on earth are healthy fish packaged and delivered?

 

[Whitey_144]

Day 7: Thought I'd run a full set of tests just for the h*ll of it.

Ammonia = 2-ish maybe a tad under, Nitrite = 5+, Nitrate = 40, PH = 8.2

Took a wander to the LFS and made notes of the fish we liked, then looked them all up here for compatibility, adult size etc. What made me laugh was that I didn't realise you could buy fish online, (my Wife still won't believe it). Plants I can understand, but how on earth are healthy fish packaged and delivered?

check out ebay..lots of fish on there! i just bought fish of Ste who is a member on here, fish came 11am next day and were perfectly relaxed. The sellers should post in an insulated box with a heat pack and padding - i suppose the water acts as a natural buffer to the movements. I saw a thread on where where the fish were ok after 2days...but i wouldnt recommend that!

...funny thing was the postman has been coming to my door alot last week delivering all sorts of tank parts and plants, the day i was in to collect, he was like, more tank parts...i was like, nope just live fish ...he looked very confused as i turned and closed the door! hehe.