lol, you're not far off now though

Right.....

9pm NitrIte 1.00ppm<
10pm NitrIte 1.00ppm<
11pm NitrIte 0.25ppm
12am NitrIte 0.25ppm<

This post has been edited by stormy78: May 23 2008, 11:05 PM

So I'm off to bed but it looks like the NitrIte will be gone by 2am at the latest which implies its processing in 18 hours or so. Whats my next steps guys? Do I continue adding ammonia until both ammonia and nitrIte process in 12 hours or do I start to mid stock the tank (15-20 tetra's and 6 dwarf cichlids)? Any advice is appreciated as always!

Thats a difficult question, Stormy. You are getting into the territory of the unknown.

I think its a judgement call, and i personally think it would be fine so long as you are careful with your stocking (what you suggest above looks fine).

On the other hand, waiting those few extra days would make absolutely sure.

Up to you though, mate.

Cheers

BTT

Thanks BTT, I was hoping to start to stock the tank on Sunday/Monday so I have a few days yet...... maybe, just maybe it will start processing within 12 hours by Monday AM..... night all

Fingers crossed.

Need a drink so thought I would do a quick test lol

9pm NitrIte 1.00ppm<
10pm NitrIte 1.00ppm<
11pm NitrIte 0.25ppm
12am NitrIte 0.25ppm<
12.45am NitrIte 0.00ppm

So its currently taking under 12 hours for ammonia to process and under 17 hours for NitrIte to process..... at least I know where I stand within a 24 hour period at the moment!

yeah it's really your judgement call to make tbh, have a read of the topic 'when is a cycle finished' in the scientific section which may help you make the decision

Cheers MW

If you are processing 4ppm ammonia into nitrate in 24 hours or less you are good to go. I haven't done a fishless cycle in years, the last was on a 65 gallon, in '04. Once it was processing 4ppm ammonia in 24 hours I stocked that baby up.

Day 42 (Saturday 24th May)

Tested Ammonia at 8.00am
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.00pm
NitrAte: 40
PH: 7.22

Raised Ammonia to 4.00ppm

Tested Ammonia at 8.00pm
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 1.00ppm<
NitrAte: 40 ppm
PH: 7.22

This post has been edited by stormy78: May 24 2008, 07:05 PM

Day 43 (Sunday 25th May)

Well after much deliberation I have decided to add some stock to the tank.

Today I added:

17 Rummy Nose Tetra's (got 2 for free)
3 Apistogramma cacatuoides (1 male, 2 females)
3 Apistogramma borellii (1 male, 2 females)
4 Amano Shrimps
2 Cherry Shrimps (I wanted 4 but there were only 2 in stock)

This is about half of the stock I'm looking to add Cardinals, Corys and Oto's in the future. I will be keeping a very close eye on the water conditions for the next week or so until I'm sure eveything is ok.

Great news stormy! (took a peek from the beach here!) ~~waterdrop~~

Hi stormy, I so pleased for you bet it was great going to purchase your residents after all that time. Makes me believe there is light at the end of the tunnel, just tested my nitrite, still no flipping change!! I've just been looking at piccies of the fish you selected they are lovely it's given me some ideas, thank you. Becky

Keep us updated with test results, Stormy?

Cheers Becky, I have probably stocked a little early if you follow the pinned topic to the letter but fingers crossed everything goes ok

I most definatly will for at least the next week or so.

The fish were added at 4pm.

I tested at 6pm:

Ammonia 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.00ppm

I fed them 2 small pinches of food at around 7.30pm

I tested again at 10pm:

Ammonia 0.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.00ppm

So far so good but I think the big test will be once they are fed on a regular basis.

On a different note its is amazing watching the confidence of the fish increase through the evening. The Rummy Nose Tetra's went from being pale to have bright red noses again by lights out and from swimming around the bottom of the tan hour or so after I turned the lights back on (after stocking the tank) to being all over the tank except right at the back. The Apisto's have already seemed to stake claims for parts of the tank. The A.Borrelli have taken the bog wood and doesnt like either the Cocotuoides of his 2 female Borrelli buddies. Both groups of Apisto females came out of their shells far quicker than the males and so far.... everything seems ok.... oh and the shrimps are funny as hell to watch darting around the tank!

Thanks Waterdrop, fingers and everything else crossed that it goes ok here on in!

excellent, glad the ammonia and nitrite are holding steady.