Miles' Fishless Cycle

[Miles_hot]

20/04 - 20:00 - day 01 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:0 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.8 - Tamp water
20/04 - 20:00 - day 01 : Ammonia: 4.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.8 - Starting point
25/04 - 20:00 - day 06 : Ammonia: 3.5 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.8 -
28/04 - 20:00 - day 09 : Ammonia: 3.5 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:20 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.9 -
02/05 - 20:00 - day 13 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:30 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 -
08/05 - 20:00 - day 19 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:30 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 -
17/05 - 20:00 - day 28 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:30 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 -
27/05 - 20:00 - day 38 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:30 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - Seeded with small handful of media
03/06 - 20:00 - day 45 : Ammonia: 1.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:30 , Temp: 22 , pH: 0.0 - Ops, didn’t switch the heater on after seeding!
06/06 - 20:00 - day 48 : Ammonia: 1.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:30 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 -
07/06 - 20:00 - day 49 : Ammonia: 0.5 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 -
08/06 - 20:00 - day 50 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 -
10/06 - 20:00 - day 52 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: .25 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - Topped up to 4ppm ammonia
12/06 - 20:00 - day 54 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - Nitrite spike - off the scale (i.e. 5+)
13/06 - 20:00 - day 55 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4 - pH dropping, 7.4 on Hi range, 7.6 on low range
14/06 - 08:00 - day 56 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4 - pH 7.4 on Hi range, 7.6 on low range
15/06 - 19:00 - day 57 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - 90% water change + re-dose to 2ppm
16/06 - 09:30 - day 58 : Ammonia: 1.0 , Nitrites: 0.5 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - Tap water = 20ppm Nitrates
16/06 - 20:00 - day 58 : Ammonia: 0.5 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
17/06 - 08:00 - day 59 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
17/06 - 20:00 - day 59 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: .25 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2
18/06 - 08:00 - day 60 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2 - Ammonia not 100% zero but v. v. close
18/06 - 21:00 - day 60 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2 - Again ammonia not vibrant yellow, dosed to 2ppm
19/06 - 21:00 - day 61 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 40 , pH: 8.2 - Still same issue with Ammonia - calling it zero! Dosed to 2ppm
20/06 - 08:00 - day 62 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
20/06 - 19:00 - day 62 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2 - Dosed to 2ppm
21/06 - 08:00 - day 63 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
21/06 - 21:00 - day 63 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2 - Dosed to 2ppm
22/06 - 00:00 - day 64 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2 - Wo Ho!!! Dounle zero. Dosed to 4ppm
23/06 - 08:00 - day 65 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
23/06 - 20:00 - day 65 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - Dosed to 2ppm as I guess we got over enthusiastic with 4ppm
24/06 - 08:00 - day 66 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
24/06 - 19:00 - day 66 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.2 - Dosed to 2ppm so the N-Bacs had something to eat
25/06 - 08:00 - day 67 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: .25 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
25/06 - 20:30 - day 67 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 3ppm
26/06 - 08:00 - day 68 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
26/06 - 20:30 - day 68 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 3ppm
27/06 - 08:00 - day 69 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
27/06 - 20:30 - day 69 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
28/06 - 08:00 - day 70 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
28/06 - 21:30 - day 70 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
29/06 - 08:00 - day 71 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0
29/06 - 20:00 - day 71 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
30/06 - 09:15 - day 72 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
30/06 - 20:15 - day 72 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
01/07 - 08:00 - day 73 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4 - in evening dosed to 4ppm (no testing)
02/07 - 09:00 - day 74 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
02/07 - 19:45 - day 74 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - 90% water change, dosed to 4ppm
03/07 - 09:45 - day 75 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
03/07 - 20:00 - day 75 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
04/07 - 10:30 - day 76 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
04/07 - 20:30 - day 76 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
05/07 - 08:30 - day 77 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
05/07 - 20:00 - day 77 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
06/07 - 08:00 - day 78 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: , pH: 8.0
06/07 - 20:00 - day 78 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
07/07 - 20:00 - day 79 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
08/07 - 08:00 - day 80 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.6
09/07 - 21:00 - day 81 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4ppm
10/07 - 09:20 - day 82 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
10/07 - 17:10 - day 82 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4 - Did two water changes to get Nitrates down to tap water (20ppm). Dosed to 4ppm. Woke up worried I might have forgotten to de-C after 2nd change!
11/07 - 08:00 - day 83 : Ammonia: 0.5 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
11/07 - 20:00 - day 83 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4 ppm
12/07 - 08:00 - day 84 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.5 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 74.0
12/07 - 20:00 - day 84 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 80.0 - dosed to 4 ppm
13/07 - 08:00 - day 85 : Ammonia: 0.5 , Nitrites: 0.5 , Nitrates:80 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
13/07 - 20:00 - day 85 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:100 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - double water change to get Nitrates to equal tap water, dosed to 4 ppm
14/07 - 08:20 - day 86 : Ammonia: 2.0 , Nitrites: .25 , Nitrates:25 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.6
14/07 - 10:30 - day 86 : Ammonia: 1.0 , Nitrites: 1.0 , Nitrates:25 , Temp: 30 , pH: 0.0 - Re-tested after actual 12 hours (due to late work doing water changes etc)
15/07 - 08:15 - day 87 : Ammonia: .25 , Nitrites: 2.0 , Nitrates:40 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4 - Dosed at 15:00 to 4 ppm (going away)
17/07 - 13:00 - day 89 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:50 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - Returned from w/e away. Dosed to 2ppm to "feed"
17/07 - 20:00 - day 89 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.5 , Nitrates:60 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4 - Dosed to 4 ppm
18/07 - 08:00 - day 90 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 5.0 , Nitrates:60 , Temp: 30 , pH: 7.4
18/07 - 20:00 - day 90 : Ammonia: 0.0 , Nitrites: 0.0 , Nitrates:60 , Temp: 30 , pH: 8.0 - dosed to 4 ppm

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yes, dose back at 2-3ppm. I wouldn't worry about the nitrite levels right now. Also there is no reason to add baking soda right now. If it falls below 7.0 then I would add baking soda or do a water change and then add the baking soda.


All looks good, but do you really mean NH3 is 30ppm on 13/6? Or should that be 3.0?

 

[Miles_hot]

Thanks Eagle - no the Ammonia figure was 0.25 !

Good to know that we don't have to do anything at the moment

 

[Miles_hot]

REMOVED (testing layout changes)

 

[KittyKat]

1) Do we need to do a water change to knock down the nitrite spike (and indeed to remove some of the nitrates)?

I would do one in two situations: nitrites are off the scale for over one day or the cycle is stalling. On the other hand, they can't do any harm, if you remember to dechlorinate first.

2) I'm guessing that we need to add some bicarb to bring the pH back to 7.8 or is it not that worrying yet?

I would: my observation is that it is the fluctuation in pH, not the pH itself, that can stall the cycle.

3) The next time we dose Ammonia should it be to 2ppm?

As above, yes.

 

[Miles_hot]

KK - thanks. Given that we've been in a Nitrite spike for 3 days now and the ammonia stayed the same las night I guess we need to sort out the water change. That will also sort out the pH I guess.
Shall we go for a 50% change?
I assume that we dose back to 2ppm of Ammonia once the change is completed.
Thanks
Miles

 

[eaglesaquarium]

If you are going to do a water change - do as big a one as you can to flush out all the excess nitrites and nitrates that you can. The nitrites are too high, so it isn't encouraging the bacteria you want, and the nitrates are too high - lowering the pH. Do a 90-100% water change, and refill with roughly temp matched dechlorinated water (so the heater doesn't have to work too hard). Then dose the ammonia at 2ppm. Perhaps add some baking soda now as well, to help buffer against a drop in pH later on.


Everything looks good though...

 

[Miles_hot]

Will do eagle near 100% water change comng up

Will take a reading before we do it and after.

Given that our native pH is 7.8 - 8.0 is it wise to add sada at this time as I would have thought that would push us too far up the scale or have I missed an important point?

Miles

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The "sweet spot" for the pH is 8.0-8.4. Baking soda won't really raise the pH above that level, so its fine to add - and will add extra buffering capacity. It's not really a big deal either way. You could add it or not add it. If you add it the pH will be more stable for longer, if you don't add it, the pH may fluctuate more quickly, but it's still fine. A lot of people cycle without ever adding baking soda, so either way is certainly acceptable. Do which ever you are more comfortable with.

 

[Miles_hot]

OK big water change done (c.80-90% so that the bottom of the outlet was not uncovered for ease) and refilled with cold water as I couldn't be bothered with schlepping 20 buckets of water through the house. Temp only dropped to 20 degrees anyway so the tank will be up to temp soon enough.

Didn't dose with soda as still thinking about that, may do it tomorrow if have time. We'll see what the stats show tomorrow - here's hoping for a restart

Thanks for the advice

Miles

 

[Miles_hot]

By the way, does the chart "work" or is it just a space filler?

 

[KittyKat]

Works, maybe try making the curve.. curvier/rounded?

 

[Miles_hot]

KK Making it curved gives some false readings of increases where there isn't one.

Did the water change and we appear to have got rid of the spike however we'll see today.

Miles

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The spike will probably come back - just not as fast as before. Each 1ppm ammonia processes into 2.7 ppm nitrite.

 

[Miles_hot]

OK so nitrites did something interesting today. Was disappointed to not see the Ammonia at zero but patience is a virtue they say
Miles