Fishless Cycle Log.

[Tropical_Chris]

Hi just joined the forum after doing much reading on the forum and reading through the newbie guide.

Just started my fishless cycle yesterday so thought it would be good to sign up and get help as i go along from the many "in the know" people on here.


Here is the newly purchased tank off ebay






As you can see its a juwel 180 tank and stand (bogwood in the tank will be making a vanishing act when i get other ornaments etc.. I removed the internal filter from the tank and replaced it with an external tetratec ex700 filter (very quiet ) I bought a juwel heater (200w) as didnt trust a second hand one so will use that as a backup. Also bought a juwel 3d background which i think is much better than the horrid stick on things


I purchased an API master test kit and some pure ammonia from my local homebase (£1.99 for anyone struggling to find some) bought a surringe from the local chemist to help measure ammonia out.


So now the important part... i left the tank to settle for 3/4 days and added some media from a friend (hope its healthy, not seen him lose any fish for along time so that should be a good sign i suppose) I left the media a day to flow through and then added 7ml of ammonia yesterday so that would be day 1 and have come to take my first test results today and im naming it day 2

Current temp of tank is - 79.4

DAY 2

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - 10
P.H - 7.4

Sorry for the essay to start off my topic but thought the more info the better Help along the way would be much appreciated!!


DAY 3

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 4

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 5

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 6

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 7

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 8

AMMONIA - 4.0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 9

AMMONIA - Between 4.0 & 2.0 so lets say 3.0 ish
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H - 7.4

DAY 10

AMMONIA - 2.0
NITRITE - O
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H 7.4

DAY 11

AMMONIA 2.0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H 7.4

DAY 12

AMMONIA 2.0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H 7.4

DAY 13

AMMONIA 2.0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H 7.4

DAY 14

AMMONIA 2.0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE - Between 0 & 5.0
P.H 7.4

DAY 15

AMMONIA 2.0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE - 0
P.H 7.4

DAY 16

AMMONIA 2.0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE - 0
P.H 7.4

DAY 17 & 18 NO TEST TAKEN

DAY 19

AMMONIA - BETWEEN 1.0 & 2.0
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 5.0


DAY 20

AMMONIA 1.0
NITRITE 0
P.H 7.4
NITRATE 5.0

DAY 21

AMMONIA 1.0
NITRITE 0
P.H 7.4
NITRATE 5.0

DAY 22

AMMONIA - Between 0.5 and 1.0 so will say 0.75
NITRITE 0
P.H 7.4
NITRATE 5.0

DAY 23 - Unable to test

DAY 24

AMMONIA - 0.25 (TOPPED UP WITH AMMONIA TO 5ppm)
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - BETWEEN 5.0 & 10

DAY 25

AMMONIA - BETWEEN 2.0 & 4.0 SO WILL SAY 3.0
NITRITE - 0.25 (FINALLY A READING )
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 10

DAY 26

AMMONIA - 2.0
NITRITE - 0.25
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 10

DAY 27

AMMONIA - 2.0
NITRITE - 0.50
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 10

DAY 28

AMMONIA - 2.0
NITRITE - 1.0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - Between 10 & 20


DAY 29

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - Either 1.0 or 5.0 the colours are far to similar to tell
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 20

DAY 30

AMMONIA - 0.50
NITRITE - 5.0 (certain on this today is very dark purple)
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 20

DAY 31

AMMONIA - 0 topped up with 5ml ammonia to get to 3ppm
NITRITE - 5.0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 20

DAY 32

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 5.0
P.H - 8.0 (increase on the normal 7.4)
NITRATE - 40

DAY 33
AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 5.0
P.H - 7.4 (hmm back to normal .. could i have misread yesterday?)
NITRATE - 40

DAY 34
AMMONIA - 0.25 (topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 5.0
P.H - 8.0 (Any idea why it keeps going from 7.4 then upto 8.0 then back again?)
NITRATE - 40

DAY 35
AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 5.0 (drops turning purple when added to test tube, if im not mistaken im sure somewhere on here is says that means the reading is off the scale?)
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

Day 36

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.5
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 20

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 20

DAY 37

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.25
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 20

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (Topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

DAY 38

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

DAY 39

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

DAY 40
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm
NITRITE - 5.0+
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 40

Day 41

NOT TEST POSSIBLE


DAY 42
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 0
P.H - not sure on this is a golden colour but cant seem match it with anything
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm
NITRITE - 0
P.H - Same as the 12 hour result
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

DAY 43
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 0.5
P.H - still the mystery colour
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0 (hmm any reason ammonia would stop suddenly dropping to 0?)
NITRITE - 0
P.H - Still not sure .. it nowhere near light yellow meaning it only comes close to the 7.4 / 7.8 colours
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

DAY 44
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.50
NITRITE - 0
P.H - still the mystery colour
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.25
NITRITE - 0
P.H - mystery colour
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

DAY 45
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 0
P.H - still the mystery colour
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 0
P.H - mystery colour
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

DAY 46
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 1.0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - Between 80 & 160

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 0.50
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - between 80 - 160

DAY 47
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.50
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.25
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish


DAY 48
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

DAY 49
12 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 1.0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.25
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

DAY 50

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0 (Topped up to 3ppm)
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish



DAY 51

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 0.50
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 1.0
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

DAY 52

12 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.50
NITRITE - 0.50
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

24 hour test

AMMONIA - 0.25
NITRITE - 0
P.H - 7.4
NITRATE - 140ish

 

[cowboy507]

Looks good! I hope everything goes well for you! what are you planing on adding?

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Looks good! I hope everything goes well for you! what are you planing on adding?

Not to sure yet angels are a defo then want to work around them so will look for some advice as to whats best to mix with them

 

[cowboy507]

Just keep everyone updated, post what you might want and everyone will help you out!
one thing about angles though is that you need to make sure that you dont keep fin nippers with them,

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Day 3 updated and thanks cowboy

 

[waterdrop]

Nice looking bit of equpment there!

I'd ease the temp on up to 84F/29C for your bacterial growing soup and remove double-spacing between lines with each test result and there will be a lot of days yet to come. Other than that quibble, you seem to have done your homework very well indeed!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Nice looking bit of equpment there!

I'd ease the temp on up to 84F/29C for your bacterial growing soup and remove double-spacing between lines with each test result and there will be a lot of days yet to come. Other than that quibble, you seem to have done your homework very well indeed!

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks mate will turn the temp up now and note taken on the double spacing haha

 

[waterdrop]

In the beginner section we like to yak about all sorts of minute details bacause its so hard having the patience to make it through a fishless cycle, lol.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Day 4 updated no change as of yet.

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Day 5 updated still the same.

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Days 6 & 7 updated

 

[cowboy507]

are you topping it off every day to 4 ppm of ammonia?
if you are you might want to hold back on this, its best to add then let it drop to 0 ppm then add back up again.
i believe that this is to insure that the right bacteria grow.

 

[Tropical_Chris]

are you topping it off every day to 4 ppm of ammonia?
if you are you might want to hold back on this, its best to add then let it drop to 0 ppm then add back up again.
i believe that this is to insure that the right bacteria grow.

Hi cowboy, not touched the ammonia since first adding it at the start of my cycle should there have been a drop by now?

 

[waterdrop]

Sometimes takes 2 or even 3 weeks for that first 4ppm of ammonia to drop to zero!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tropical_Chris]

Sometimes takes 2 or even 3 weeks for that first 4ppm of ammonia to drop to zero!

~~waterdrop~~

Fantastic i have plenty of patients it takes aslong as it takes