Yet another cycling question...

[Danny Boy]

Ok, I have started adding ammonia to the tank today in an effort to cycle it properly.

Before I added anything, I decided to test for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates as a kind of control, and also to work out how to use my test kit!

My readings:

pH: 8
Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

So, I'm waiting for this so-called nitrite 'spike', is it a very sudden increase? How do I spot it when testing every day?

 

[houndour]

When I did my fishless cycle, I tested every day, sometimes twice and when I saw my first sign of nitrite it very quickly went off the scale and stayed there for about a week before coming down again.

 

[sylvia]

A 'spike' is basicaly the uppermost value it'll reach before coming down again. It varies from tank to tank and depends both on how quickly the bacteria multiply in your tank and on how much ammonia is added in the first place. Like houndour said, it's quite sudden and often goes off the charts. NitrIte also happens to take longest to start coming down again but it's better when you are fishless cycling.

At the moment, it appears you either have a faulty test kit, chloramines in your tap water or have got something organic in your tank as you shouldn't have readings for either ammonia or ntirIte.
First of all, is this water from your tank? If so, you either have plants in your tank or snails (or both) that have already started off the cycle.
Another possibility is that your tap water contains chloramines. Your de-chlorinator would then remove the chlorine but the ammonia (which makes up the remaining part of 'chloramine') was left and that has started your cycle. If it's because of either of these, it doesn't matter and will just mean you have a speedier cycle. Still, planting the tank is an idea to helpr emove the excess ammonia which you'll actualy eb adding at every water change unless you get a de-chloraminator (which is advisable).
However, if this is tap water (not yet de-chlorinated), and you use test strips (the paper ones) to test, you may need to buy a new test kit (go for the liquid-based) as the strips lose their accuracy with time and may be giving you false readings.
On the other hand, if they are correct and this water was not de-chlorinated/de-chloraminated, it emans your tap water contains this toxic substances. If so, look into heavily planting your tank once it's cycled.

If you can test some water directly from the tap and some fresh water that's been de-chlorinated, that would help determine whether your cycle has actualy already begun or not so you'll know approx. how long it'll take to complete.

 

[Danny Boy]

Thanks for the in depth reply Sylvia.

The water I used for the tests was indeed from the tank, and was dechlorinated when it was put in yesterday.

You are also right that there is organic material in the tank, a plant recommended by my local aquatic centre as a good starter and suitable for the conditions of my tank, which they sold me.

I have a liquid based test kit, so I'm hoping it's accurate.

 

[sylvia]

In that case, your cycle sounds like it's already started - probably because of rotting pieces of plant (could be chloramines from the tap though still). However, seeing as you say you only put the water in yesterday, it probably won't be making a significant difference to the length fo time it takes to complete the cycle. Good luck anyway

Do you know what you're going to put in yet?

 

[Danny Boy]

Thanks, I have learned alot from this forum already...there seems to be so much that can go wrong!

Seems I have also had my share of bad advice already, my local pet store told me to just bung in plain tap water and leave the filter running for two weeks. Hmmmm.

I like the look of Neon Tetras, so think I will start with those.

 

[glolite]

No don't start with neons, they are quite sensitive towater values. Waait till your tank has cycled and add hardy fish such as dannios or platys, depending if you want livebearers or egg layers.

 

[Danny Boy]

Interesting...damn that pet store.

Neon Tetra Tank, big sticker:

'IDEAL FOR NEW TANKS'

D'oh!

 

[sylvia]

Seeing as it'll be a cycled tank, however, don't worry TOO much about getting extremely hardy first fish. As long as you add any fish you get slowly at first though, it should be ok. Still, neons are best reserved for a tank that's at least 6 months old (though you can manage sooner if you realy want to).

LFS usualy give terrible advice At least you've managed to start off well by taking the initiative and doing your own research

 

[Danny Boy]

Well, hopefully everything will go as I hope, and not throw up too many unexpected problems!

I just keep thinking there must be something I have forgotten!

 

[fatguppy]

Stick in there Danny boy! It's a scary ride for the first few weeks, but believe me once it's cycled and the fish are happy and healthy - you can sit back and relax (well a bit!!!).

When we got our first tank some 7 months ago we went through a hell of a night, having (like you) been given lousy advice from the lfs. After about 2 -3 weeks we got a nitrite spike and lost overnight about 5 fish. It was horrendous. This site got me to understand about fishless cycles and what to do if it all goes wrong. I wouldn't have got this far without the peeps on here.

I've found the best lfs are the ones who are enthusiasts themselves. Too many lfs are just garden centres with staff with little or very basic knowledge who are probably on commission anyway. I am told by our trusted lfs that that the staff from one of the dodgy garden centre lfs actually go to them to buy tropical fish - even though they get a staff discount at their own place. The reason - so many fish die within a few days/weeks of gettting them home.

Good luck and most of all enjoy! I find this a most rewarding hobby (way of life )

Just to add - although we struggled with high nitrites for about a week (and we had fish so we had to do water changes sometimes twice a day) it suddenly dropped overnight which I understand (from peeps on here) that this is often the case.

 

[Ami]

Can I use the plants from my existing tank to start the cycle over again, bearing in mind that the tank had been treated for whitespot, the fish all died and had a weird fungus on them afterwards? Putting it that way, I guess the answer is already no....

I understand that whitespot in particular (sorry, ick if your in the US) can live on plants and I really don't want my 2nd disaster of the summer! I'm really looking forward to curling up on the sofa with that glass of wine, enjoying my coal fire and watching my fish going about their business once winter comes.

Ami