My Fishless Cycle Log, *updated Daily*

[sjolliff]

Here is my fishless cycle log for the 3rd time!

1st one due to problems with API stress coat+ (dodgy bottle)
2nd (nearly finished ) due to leeches and other weird creatures from mature pond media,
I did a full clean and strip down!

So hopefully 3rd time lucky
I will be updating my results every 24hr (8PMish) here on the 1st post

Cheers Steve

Fluval 125L
Sand
Tetratec EX1200 filter w/ spraybar (media: Pre-filter/Sponge x2/Bio-balls/Sponge,Fine sponge,Polishing pad)
Hydor Nano 900LPH + Hydor 1 1500LPH
18 X Turnover (Realistically about 12)
Fluval E series LCD internal heater

Im using the API freshwater master kit
Temp at 29c, PH at 8ish ( w/ Baking Soda)
Water w/ Tetratec Aquasafe

And in the dark this time

Please have a look at my
Stocking List

]Day 1 Added 5ppm Ammonia
Day 2 24HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrite 0.25ppm Nitrate 7ppm
Day 3 24HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 1.5ppm Nitrite 0.50ppm Nitrate 8ppm
Day 4 24HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 1.5ppm Nitrite 0.50ppm Nitrate 9ppm
Day 5 24HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 1.5ppm Nitrite 1.0ppm Nitrate 10ppm
Day 6 24HR PH 7.6 Ammonia 1.0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 15ppm

Day 7 24HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 0.25ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 20ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 8 24HR PH 8.1 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 7ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 9 24HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 15ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 10 24HR PH 8.3 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 7ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 11 24HR PH 8.3 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 20ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 12 24HR PH 8.3 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 30ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added !A!
Day 13 24HR PH 8.1 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 70ppm (Nitrite Off Scale) 2ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 14 24HR PH 8.1 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0.75ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 2ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 15 24HR PH 8.1 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 16 24HR PH 8.1 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0.50ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 17 24HR PH 8.2 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added
Day 18 12HR PH 7.8 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm

Day 18 24HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 19 12HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 1.5ppm Nitrate 80+ppm

Day 19 24HR PH 8.2 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 20 12HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 1.0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm

Day 20 24HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5 ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 21 12HR PH 7.9 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 1.0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm

Day 21 12HR PH 8.2 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 22 12HR PH 8.1 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 1.0ppm Nitrate 80+ppm

Day 22 24HR PH 8.3 NO TEST NO TEST NO TEST 5 ppm Of Ammonia Added 90% WC

Day 23 12HR PH 7.2 Ammonia 0.25ppm Nitrite 0.75ppm Nitrate 20ppm

Day 23 24HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 15ppm 5 ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 24 12HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 0.50ppm Nitrite0.75ppm Nitrate 20ppm

Day 24 24HR PH 8.2 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 30ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 25 12HR PH 8.2 Ammonia 0.50ppm Nitrite 0.50ppm Nitrate 40ppm

Day 25 24HR PH 8.2 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 40ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 26 12HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 0.50 Nitrite 1.0ppm Nitrate 50ppm

Day 26 24HR NO TEST Added Plants, Wood, Rocks Etc 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

Day 27 12HR PH 8.0 Ammonia 1.0ppm Nitrite 5.0ppm (off scale) Nitrate 70ppm

Day 27 24HR PH 7.6 Ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0.75ppm Nitrate 80+ppm 5ppm Of Ammonia Added

 

[waterdrop]

 

[Ginga@139]

Good luck this time , ill watch with interest
hope it all goes well
Ginga

 

[sjolliff]

Cheers thanks for your support
i was ready to throw the lot out! lol

 

[yasinullah]

the ammonias dropped nice and erly, so hopefully wont be as long this time round, hang in there!!!!

 

[sjolliff]

yeah plus the nitrite has gone up since this morn (quick test)
cheers

 

[sjolliff]

Day 3 *Updated*

 

[Harlequins]

Good luck

 

[sjolliff]

Day 4 *Updated*

No change as such but the Ammonia and Nitrite were slightly darker than last night.

I added an additional powerhead today the "hydor 1" at 1500LPH.

Probably no need for it, but it gives it more of a turnover, plus im having a planted tank onced cycled.
Cheers Steve

 

[sjolliff]

Day 5 *Updated*
Ammonia seemed to have slowed down, Nitrite doing well and steady progress with nitrates,

Added King British White Spot Control today as i found a leech and an egg sack

hopefully it will kill them all off

Goin to add every 48hrs for a week then after run carbon media every day for 3 days, replacing everyday

 

[sjolliff]

Day 6 *Updated*
Nitrites dropped fast to the bottom turned dark blue with a purple top within 6 secs so there on there way to the spike
Im goin to add a bit of baking soda to raise the PH slighty and to buffer it.

When thing i need to know is how do you know you have hit the "spike"?
Because last time when i noticed for a few days the drops turned purple instantly i then dropped to 2ppm of ammonia

im not sure weather i hit the "spike" or does it get there no matter how much ammonia you put in?

Since last night i found 2 dead leech looking creature (not planeria) so thats a good sign

 

[waterdrop]

The term "nitrite spike phase" simply means that the nitrite(NO2) measurement has climbed to the maximum that the nitrite test can show and is remaining there test after test. It has nothing to do with how much ammonia is added (although if one were to lower the amount of ammonia being added drastically right at the beginning of the nitrite spike, the nitrite might come out of the spike for a bit I suppose.) It has to do with the difference in perceived growth rate of the two types of bacteria we are growing. The ammonia oxidizing bacteria (the ones we call A-Bacs) grow more quickly, so a point in time fairly early on is reached when they are producing more nitrite(NO2) than the nitrite oxidizing bacteria (the N-Bacs) can eat and turn into nitrate(NO3). So the excess nitrite(NO2) builds up day after day and reaches levels way up above what we can measure with our nitrite(NO2) kit. So to us, the number we keep logging day after day is just the maximum number the kit can show us. That is the "nitrite spike."

The next time phase of a fishless cycle after the nitrite spike phase is the period when nitrite is dropping to zero within 24 hours of when ammonia was added. Then the number of hours for the drop gets less and less until the nitrite is dropping to zero ppm within 12 hours of when ammonia was added. The last time phase of a fishless cycle is usually when either ammonia or nitrite is *almost* dropping to zero by 12 hours but not quite. We call this "sticking" and its quite common at the end.

Once both ammonia and nitrite(NO2) go from adding a full 5ppm of ammonia down to zero ppm ammonia and zero ppm nitrite(NO2) in 12 hours or less, then you can start your "qualifying week." This is the last week of fishless cycling where you prove to yourself that its not tricking you and that it can keep dropping to zero day after day. Meanwhile this is also the week you finalize your stocking plans and make sure the LFS is going to have all the fish for your first fish introduction!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[sjolliff]

Cheers Waterdrop
I wait until the nitrites are off scale for a few days then drop down to 2ppm of ammonia till they come down

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, it can help to run your ammonia adds at 2 or 3ppm during the nitrite spike phase, it helps reduce to overall excess of nitrite and nitrate and sometimes lets you see some dropping of the nitrite sooner. The ammonia add levels can be eased back upward after the spike phase until they reach 5ppm during the last period where you're hoping for both ammonia and nitrite to drop to zero within 12 hours.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[sjolliff]

Yeah that what i did last time when the nitrites hit 0 after lowering the ammonia to 2ppm while the dropped i dosed back up to 4ppm