Fishless Cycle Log

[Harlequins]

Hi there

Well i got some ammonia today to attempt to do a fishless cycle on my 30l tank.Its Jeyes 'Kleen off' household ammonia for 99p,i checked online the percentage and its 9 %,after checking the calculator for volume etc it has come up has 1.67 ammonia to put into the tank to get the desired level of 5ppm,i hope i'm getting this right,on my plastic 5ml syringe i bought from my local chemist for 20p,it only goes up in 1/2 and whole ml(if you get my drift) ,anyway do i aim at just past the 1 and 1/2 ml mark?
I have in the tank a bio filter connected to an airpump,heater set at 82 degrees,gravel with i originally used for my goldfish,but have now taken out the original filter has i don't think it was working properly anyway.
I intend on using this tank for possible platy fry.

I'm still trying to get my head around the fishless cycle,i understand about ammonia turning to nitrites then to nitrates,but i am unsure how often i put this ammonia in for,i have tried reading other posts regarding cycling with ammonia but the brain just won't take it in properly.
Do i add this 1.67ml of ammonia everyday until nitrites show?,do i do any water changes during this process or only when nitrates get to high?



Here's a run down of all readings so far;test kit interpet liquid test

start off
10.30pm added 5ppm ammonia

day 1
9.30am (12hr)-ammonia 1.2,nitrite 0.25,nitrate 25,ph 8.5
10.30pm(24hr)-ammonia 1.2 - added 5ppm ammonia
day 2
9.30am-ammonia 2.0,nitrite 0.5,nitrate 50,ph 8.5
9.30pm-ammonia 1.2,nitrite 1.5,nitrate 100,ph 8.5
day3
not tested am
9.30pm-ammonia 0.0,nitrite 4.0 -added 5ppm ammonia
day 4
9.30am-ammonia 1.2
9.30pm-ammonia 0.0,nitrite 4.0 -added 5ppm ammonia
day 5
9.30am-ammonia 0.4,nitrite 4.0 plus
9.30pm-ammonia 0.0, -added 5ppm ammonia
day 6
9.30am-ammonia 0.0,
9.30pm-ammonia 0.0 -added 2ppm ammonia
day 7
9.30am-ammonia 0.0,nitrite 0.5/1.5-going down
9.30pm-ammonia 0.0,nitrite 0.1 yah!! -added 2ppm ammonia
day 8
unable to test water-awaiting new test kit
11.30pm added 2ppm ammonia(nearly forgot)
day 9 New api master test kit is here!!
9.30am-ammonia 0 nitrite 0.50
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 YES!!!-added 3ppm ammonia-going back up-fingers crossed
day 10
9.30am-ammonia 0.5 nitrite 1.0
9.30pm ammonia 0.25 nitrite 0.50 no ammonia added
day 11
9.30am-ammonia 0 nitrite 0,added a few flakes,will add ammonia tonight
9.30pm-ammonia 0 nitrite 0, added 3ppm ammonia
day 12
9.30am-ammonia 1.0,nitrite 1.0
9.30pm-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.50 seems to be slowing down
day 13
9.30am-ammonia 0,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 14
9.30am-ammonia 1.0,nitrite 1.0
9.30pm-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.50 no ammonia added
day 15
9.30am-ammonia 0,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 16
9.30am-ammonia 1.0,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25 this is getting frustrating!!!
day 17
9.30am-ammonia 0 nitrite 0
9.20pm -ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 18
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25
9.15pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 -added 3ppm ammonia -keeping fingers crossed it may hit 0 in the morning
day 19
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25
9.15pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 20
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25,ph 7.8
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 21
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 22
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0, nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 23
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.25 yet again.....
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 -added 3ppm ammonia!
day24
9.30am-ammonia 0 ,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 25
9.30am-ammonia 0 ,nitrite 0.25 -
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 26
9.30am-ammonia 0 ,nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 27
9.30am-ammonia 0,nitrite 0
100% water change,Forced into adding 3 platy fry!!
ammonia 0,nitrite 0
day 28
8am-ammonia 0,nitrite- not quite zero,slight reading,have moved fry out and will remain fishless until it clears on reg basis!
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 29
9.30am-ammonia 1.0,nitrite 0.25
10pm- ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.50
day 30
9.30am-ammonia 0.nitrite 0.25
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 31
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 1.0
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0.25 added 3ppm ammonia
day 32
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 1.0,ph 7.8/8.
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0.25
day 33
9.30am-ammonia 0.50,nitrite 0.50
12.30pm-gave sponge filter a good squeeze in used tank water(thanks oldman)
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0.25 added 3ppm ammonia
day 34
9.30am-ammonia 1.0,nitrite 1.0
9.30pm-ammonia 0.nitrite 0.25 added 3ppm ammonia
day 35
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 0.50
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 1.0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 36
9.30am-ammonia 0.50,nitrite 1.0
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 1.0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 37
9.30am-ammonia 0.50,nitrite 1.0
9.15pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 1.0 added 3ppm ammonia
day 38
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 1.0
9.30pm-ammonia 0,nitrite 0.50 added 3ppm ammonia
day 39
9.30am-ammonia 0.25,nitrite 1.0,nitrate 40,ph 7.8
9.30pm-

 

[OldMan47]

You add it once and wait until the ammonia reading comes down to near zero. Then you dose again.

 

[m00se]

Yup. Basically, add the ammonia (don't worry about getting it spot on, just make sure it's not at massively high levels in your tank water an hour or so after you've dosed it). In short:

1) Add ammonia
2) Test water at 24h, and every 24h thereafter until the ammonia is at 0 (this will take a frustratingly long time at first). When it is at 0 or close, add your (same) amount of ammonia again.
3) At some stage, your nitrite will start to increase, and then decrease slowly. This decrease will take longer than the ammonia did to go down. Stay positive!
4) Eventually, your ammonia and nitrite reading will be at 0 at 24h. At this point, start testing for both every 12 hours. Don't add ammonia more often than every 24 hours
5) After what feels like forever, your ammonia and nitrite reading will be at 0 at 12h. At this point, you can do a large water change, and then fully stock your fish tank

Tips:

- If you haven't already, get yourself a proper liquid test kit. Many of us here use the API Master Test Kit. The test strips are, unfortunately, about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
- It will feel like it's taking forever. Don't give up, don't lose hope, just persist and it will get there, I promise!
- If you can, get some mature filter media. There is a forum post pinned somewhere with people who are willing to donate filter media - it's worth asking them if they will give you some. Failing that, go to your local fish store and ask them if they have any you can buy (usually you can get some on the cheap, a couple of pounds only), or, if not, some places will squeeze their filter sponges out into a bag of water for you. Anything, anything you can do to get your hands on some bacteria and get them into your tank will massively increase your chances of speeding up your cycle (and you'll keep more of your hair!).
- Don't do water changes during cycling, there's no need.
- Try your best to ignore the nasty brown algae and sludge that will likely build up all over the glass and everything in your tank while you're cycling - this will go away at the end of everything when you do some large waterchanges before adding your fish.

Good luck!

 

[Harlequins]

Thank you both

Last night at 10.30pm i added 1.67ml of ammonia,readings originally were zero,i squeeze the media from the originally filter into the tank before removing it for good and left the sponge bio filter in there.
9.30am tested the water
ammonia 1.2
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 25
ph 8.5 (this is the reading from my tap also)

So i will test it again at 10.30pm(i got ambitious this morning),then add the same amount again if ammonia is zero.has i appear to have nitrites do i still wait 24hrs?
Sorry for being thick,i'm very new to fishless cycling!

I do have an interpet easy test liquid master kit,i did try them tetra test strips but learnt my lesson there

Thanks

 

[m00se]

Looks like you're well on track for a good clone if you've got your ammonia down to 1.2 in 12 hours. Glad to see it's also processing away some of the nitrite too. I'd recheck the ammonia/nitrite tonight at 10.30pm and if the ammonia is 0 then re-dose the tank. (I don't blame you for checking this morning, I'd probably check tomorrow morning too! )

Good going!

 

[Harlequins]

Looks like you're well on track for a good clone if you've got your ammonia down to 1.2 in 12 hours. Glad to see it's also processing away some of the nitrite too. I'd recheck the ammonia/nitrite tonight at 10.30pm and if the ammonia is 0 then re-dose the tank. (I don't blame you for checking this morning, I'd probably check tomorrow morning too! )

Good going!

Thanks moose, I wished i done a fishless cycle to my 20 gal,but i done it fish in,i'm getting a dab hand at doing water changes now!!
Thankfully,i haven't lost any fish.
But water meter is whizzing around fast!

 

[Harlequins]

Hi all

well day 2,
Last night i checked my water 10.30pm
Ammonia 1.2,i made a mistake of adding ammonia again when it hadn't reached zero! I hope i haven't messed it up.

Anyway readings this morning at 9.30am

Ammonia 2.0
nitrite 0.5
nitrate 50
ph 8.5

I will check again tonight at 10.30pm and will not add ammonia unless its zero!

 

[Harlequins]

Hi all

Well i've moved my time for testing forward to 9.30pm now.No ammonia added has still not dropped to zero

Just tested tank
Ammonia 1.2
nitrite 1.5
niitrate 100
ph 8.5

Do i need to do a water change has nitrates are so high or just leave it ?

 

[m00se]

High nitrates won't have any detriment, as far as I know, to a fishless cycle. Let the cycle run along on its own and then when it's fully cycled just do a massive (90% or so) water change.

 

[Harlequins]

ok thanks

 

[waterdrop]

High nitrates won't have any detriment, as far as I know, to a fishless cycle. Let the cycle run along on its own and then when it's fully cycled just do a massive (90% or so) water change.

High nitrates slow the development of the N-Bacs (the Nitrospira.)

It would be unusual for these to be so high at the very beginning of a fishless cycle so I'd be suspicious this is a misreading of the test result.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Harlequins]

High nitrates won't have any detriment, as far as I know, to a fishless cycle. Let the cycle run along on its own and then when it's fully cycled just do a massive (90% or so) water change.

High nitrates slow the development of the N-Bacs (the Nitrospira.)

It would be unusual for these to be so high at the very beginning of a fishless cycle so I'd be suspicious this is a misreading of the test result.

~~waterdrop~~

If high nitrates slow the development of N-bacs,,would it be best to change some water?- the test definately showed a dark red,which according to interpet liquid kit shows it coming up has 100 for nitrates. Although i do have my suspicions now over my test kit,i just put a thread up regarding test kit and my ph level.

 

[waterdrop]

Water changes slow N-Bac development too, lol.

 

[Harlequins]

Water changes slow N-Bac development too, lol.

-no win suituation then! lol!!

Tested water last night
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 4.0

So something is happening i hope,i added 5ppm ammonia.

Tested 9am today just ammonia 1.2

 

[Harlequins]

Day 4

Tested 9.30pm

Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite over 4.0 (off the colour chart)
Nitrate 100
ph 8.5

Just added 5ppm ammonia

When will the nitrites start moving back down?