Liverbird's New Fishless Cycle

[Liverbird36]

Hi Guy's Started my Fishless cycle today and are new to Tropical Fish keeping so any advice would be warmly welcomed. This is my first ever attempt at Aquarium cycling so please feel free to chastise me if I go awry lol. The tank was set up 6 days prior to the start of this Cycling but had to empty about 80% of tank water due to inncorrect Ammonia dosage given to me by P@H. In those 6 days that the tank was running, the temperature was set at 24 degrees and 2ml dose of Filter Start added every other day, and had a very heavy Bacterial Bloom after day 3. The set up is as follows:
Interpet Fishbox 64 litres: Dimensions 24inch length x 12inch width x 27inch height.
Heater = Interpet Delta Therm 150w
Filter = Interpet PF2 500l/h max (three stage bio filtration) also includes an airation pump at top of filter.
Lighting = Daylight Compact bulb on right side of tank and Blue Moon bulb on the left hand side.
Water dechlorinated using Interpet Bioactive Tapsafe and Interpet Filter Start used every other day to aid filter establishment

Cycling using Homebase Household Ammonia 9.5%
Testing using the API Master Test Kit.

TAP WATER TEST RESULTS

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm
PH = 7.6ppm

DAY 1 Temp 26c Ammonia 0.5ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 0ppm. Temp raised to 30c and 2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 2 Temp 30c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm No Filter Start added.

DAY 3 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 10ppm Ceased the use of Filter Start and 10% water change

DAY 4 Temp 29c Ammonia 3-4ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 5 Temp 29c Ammonia 3.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 3.0ppm

DAY 6 Temp 29c Ammonia 3.oppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 7 Temp 29c Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm 10% water change may hae dropped Ammonia levels.

DAY 8 Temp 29c Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm Added 2ml Ammonia to bring level up after water change.

DAY 9 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm. Tank no longer smells rancid. Nice tropical house smell.

DAY 10 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 11 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 12 TEMP 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 12 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm


DAY 13 Temp 29c Ammonia 3-4ppm Nitrites 0.25 Nitrates just over 5.0ppm

DAY 14 Temp 29c Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrites 1.0ppm Nitrates 10ppm PH 8.2ppm

DAY 15 Temp 29c Ammonia 1.0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm Nitrates 20ppm
2ml Ammonia added as had dropped to 0.25ppm

DAY 16 Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm Nitrates 20ppm

DAY 17 Temp 29c Ammonia 0.50ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm Nitrates 70ppm PH 8.2
2ml Ammonia added as had dropped to zero level now 4.0ppm

DAY 18 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale Nitrates 80ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

DAY 19 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale Nitrates 90ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 20 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 100ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 21 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 110ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 22 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 120ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

100% water change as substrate changed to sand. re-dosed with 2ml Ammonia to
bring level back up.

Tests 1hr after water change Temp 29c Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 5.0ppm

DAY 23 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 40ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

DAY 24 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrtates 80ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm.

DAY 25 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 100ppm
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm.

DAY 26 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 120ppm
2ml Ammonia added level now 4.0ppm.

DAY 27 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm Nitrates 130ppm ish.
1.5ml Ammonia added level now 2.0ppm-3.0ppm

DAY 28 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 140ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
Day 28 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 29 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 140ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 29 8:00pm Ammonia 1.0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 30 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 5.0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 150ppm
8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 31 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 31 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm !!!!

DAY 32 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 32 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm

DAY 33 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 160ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 33 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 34 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates Off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm (forgot to add this morning as a result was added 2hrs late !!)
DAY 34 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm.

DAY 35 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale PH 8.0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 35 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 36 Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 36 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 37 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 37 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

DAY 38 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 38 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm

50% water change done. Nitrates 1hr after water change are still off scale.

DAY 39 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.
DAY 39 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++

DAY 40 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale PH 8.2ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above
DAY 40 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++

DAY 41 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above.
DAY 41 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm ++

DAY 42 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above.
DAY 42 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale

DAY 43 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates off scale
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above
DAY 43 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale

DAY 44 8:00am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level as above.
DAY 44 8:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites off scale

90% water change performed and 2.5ml Ammonia added level 5.0ppm
Water stats 1hr later.
Ammonia 4.0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm Nitrates 40ppm

DAY 45 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm
DAY 45 8:30ppm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm Nitrates 40ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm

DAY 46 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 2.0ppm
DAY 46 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added level now 5.0ppm.

DAY 47 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm !! PH 8.2ppm
DAY 47 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 48 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 5.0ppm
DAY 48 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 49 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.50ppm
DAY 49 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 50 8:30am Temp 29c Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.50ppm
DAY 50 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added

DAY 51 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.50ppm
DAY 51 7:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm

90% water change performed. 2.5ml Ammonia added 8:00pm
Nitrates now 20ppm

DAY 52 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm !!!!! WHOOP WHOOP
DAY 52 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm !!!!!
2.5ml Ammonia added

DAY 53 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0.25ppm
DAY 53 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 54 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 54 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 55 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 55 9:00pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 56 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 56 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 57 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 57 9:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 58 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 58 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.


DAY 59 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 59 8:45pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
2.5ml Ammonia added.

DAY 60 8:30am Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm
DAY 60 8:30pm Ammonia 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm

OFFICIALLY CYCLED !!!!!!!!!

Tank for some reason is now un-cyled

 

[Liverbird36]

I am suprised to get Nitrite and Nitrate readings at only day two. Is this because the tank had bee running quite happily for 6 days prior to the start of this cycling ?? Also. if the Nitrates are rising already, what level do I allow them to reach before doing a water change ? have read that i'm not supposed to touch the water until the end of Cycle is this correct ??

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Liverbird.
The 6 days of adding the filter start may have given you the very start of a cycle. If I recall correctly, filter start is a biological that can break down and supply a bit of ammonia from that decay, so you may have had a bit of ammonia present during those 6 days. I would just monitor for now and see what you get in terms of processing your ammonia. I have no idea what the actual composition of your filter start product really is but we have not seen any cycle shortened by using such products. I don't think I have seen one interrupted by its use either so go ahead if it makes you feel better to dose it.

 

[Liverbird36]

Thank you OM47 (feels a bit rude calling you oldman lol) The Filter Start came with the Filter and it recommended you use it every other day for 7 doses. Apparently it's meant to help with conditioning the filter but not sure how correct that is. Have read that some of these products contain Ammonia as you suggest but have been unable to find out exactly what is in the product. have googled it too but as yet nothing so I guess i'm going on blind faith alone lol. Have only been using the API test kit since start of cycle, prior to that used the Tetra strips and as these do not show ammonia, I am unable to say whether or not there was ammonia present in the tank before the cycle began. The results today have thrown me a bit as was expecting to have an easy week of just having to keep an eye on the Ammonia. Water was only changed on Monday (80%) so so should I leave well alone even if the Nitrate levels continue to rise ??? Thank you for your welcome.

 

[Liverbird36]

All it says on the bottle is "Filter Start is a bacteria culture, which helps rapidly start up the waste breakdown process in the filter. No list of ingredients at all.

 

[OldMan47]

As long as you have some value of ammonia, just watch it for now. When it reaches zero for the first time is soon enough to add any back in. Your nitrite reading may be some kind of anomaly but it is worth checking again in the next week some time.

 

[Liverbird36]

Observations on day 3:

The water is crystal clear, although everything inside the tank is covered in a white coating that feels slimy but when disturbed, looks like it's snowing in the tank. Have d3cided to leave the aquarium lights off from now on as the white coating is more significant over the side of the tank where the light is situated. There are no live plants in this tank.

Have noticed a smell when within a coupl of feet of the tank. It's not really unpleasant, like a woody Rainforest smell, but it is noticable. Not sure if I should do a small water change as it was almost completely changed on Monday; although the Nitrates are rising. Wondering if the high temp is making the smell more obvious. Will leave well alone unless advised otherwise.

 

[waterdrop]

For some reason from reading a few filter start cases back over time I have the feeling that filter start may not only leave some organics that break down in to ammonia but also may dump some nitrites and nitrates directly in. So I think it can lead you to incorrectly think that you've got bacteria in there that are progressing and producing those products when in fact you are just putting them in directly. The bacteria are still probably too tiny in number to be producing any NO2 or NO3 if we just had them and the ammonia in there.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Liverbird36]

Thanks WD. I have decided to stop using the Filter Start as suspect it may be altering things a little, and are wondering if it has been contributing to the amount of gunk in the tank/filter. Will see how the tests go from now on. The Nitrates are rising quite quickly considering I did an 80% water change on Monday and this has also led me into thinking the Filter Start may be responsible in some way.

 

[Liverbird36]

Have done a 10% water change. Filter was so gunked up don't know how it was managing to run as well as it was ! Hopefully, it should ease some of the issues that MAY have arisen as a result of using the Filter Start.

 

[Liverbird36]

Observations on day 4:
Water crystal clear. Was using an additional polishing pad but had to remove after a couple of days as was so sludged up with all the white stuff; to be honest, the water looks exactly the same without it's use. Have a thick layer of this white stuff all over tank contents and it shows no sign of moving. Was tempted to siphon it out but thought that may have a detrimental effect on any beneficial bacteria so will leave it for now. After a quick rinse in tank water, my Carbon pad has decided to spit tiny fragments of itself out of the filter; maybe I'm no supposed to rinse, but just discard these; will probably remove it completely later.

 

[OldMan47]

You do not need to replace the carbon in your filter nor should you replace any of the other media at first. Instead, just rinse things off in dechlorinated tank water and place back into the filter. Many people do not use carbon because it serves little purpose in a freshwater tank unless you need it to remove medications, remove water color resulting from wood leaching or control bad odors. Instead, many of us fill the space where the carbon once was placed with more biological media.
So far your chemistry results are more or less typical of a beginning fishless cycle.

 

[Liverbird36]

You do not need to replace the carbon in your filter nor should you replace any of the other media at first. Instead, just rinse things off in dechlorinated tank water and place back into the filter. Many people do not use carbon because it serves little purpose in a freshwater tank unless you need it to remove medications, remove water color resulting from wood leaching or control bad odors. Instead, many of us fill the space where the carbon once was placed with more biological media.
So far your chemistry results are more or less typical of a beginning fishless cycle.

Thank you OM for your response. Have removed the Carbon filter. had to rinse the other as it was so clogged up, but I rinsed it in the warm tank water that was removed during the change yesterday. Have taken your advice on replacing the Carbon with some more Biomedia and are researching which would be the best to use as the space left by the Carbon isn't that big. Thank you once again, your advice is appreciated very much.

 

[Liverbird36]

My living room is beginning to smell like a jungle !!! Not sure if that's a good sign or not.

 

[Liverbird36]

Have had a layer of white stuff about 1cm thick in the tank for over a week now, and the tank is smelling quite strong; not in a very unpleasant way, but increasingly noticable when in the same room. Are wondering if all the chemicals I added over a week ago, before I had the Ammonia dosage problem, along with the Filter Start have caused some kind of dumping of by products in the tank. It looks like i'ts snowed extremely heavily in there. The glass and water are nice and clear but this white layer wil not shift. I have been doing some small water changes. Haven't vacumed anything, just disturb the water with my hand enough to displace the white stuff. Wondering if that's why I have the smell too. Are of the opinion now that my use of filter aid products along with the Ph buffers I used, have made the tank a bit more problematic than if I hadn't used them. May be wrong though. Things seem to be stabilizing themselves now thoses products have been stopped. The water changes don't seem to be effecting the Ammonia levels either which I am pleased about.