Starting A Fishless Cycle

[danb]

so i dont have to use paper ! posted this in another topic but thought it be best to start a new one so i can keep updating...

I thought id take a a few pics; here's the tank setup, dosed with ammonia today. I was buying a chinchilla about 3 months ago and the guy had this fish tank which he just gave me. I just need to change the beading that doesnt match!

Im moving the fish from the below tank into the new tank once its cycled. Stock = 6 neon tetras, 6 glowlight tetras, 6 zebra danios, 2 blackwidow tetras, 2 neon gouramis, 2 golden gouramis, 2 opaline gouramis and 1 silver shark. His friend died i will be rehoming him at some point.

Day 1 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = 0 // Nitrate = 0 // PH = 7.6 //
Day 2 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 3 - // Amm = 4/5ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 4 - // Amm = 4/5ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 5 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 6 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 7 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 8 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 9 - // Amm = 4/5ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 10 - // Amm = 4/5ppm // Nitrite = N/A // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 11 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = 0.10 // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 12 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = 0.25 // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 13 - // Amm = 3ppm // Nitrite = 0.75 // Nitrate = N/A // PH = N/A //
Day 13 - // Amm = 3ppm // Nitrite = 1 // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.4 // - PM
Day 14 - // Amm = 3ppm // Nitrite = 1 // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.4 //
Day 15 - // Amm = 2ppm // Nitrite = 5 // Nitrate = 10 // PH = 7.4 //
Day 16 - // Amm = 2ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 20 // PH = 7.4 //
Day 17 - // Amm = 0.5-1ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 80 // PH = 7.4 //
Day 18 - // Amm = 0.5ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = no test // PH = no test //
Day 18 - // Amm = 4ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 10 // PH = 8+ // - ADDED to 4ppm ammonia and retest
Day 19 - // Amm = 2ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 10 // PH = 7.0 //
Day 20 - // Amm = 0ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6.8 // - ADDED 8mls ammonia - should be around 4ppm
Day 22 - // Amm = 2ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6.8 //
Day 23 - // Amm = 1ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6.4 // Added 6mls ammonia to boost ph up
Day 24 - // Amm = 3ppm // Nitrite = 5+ // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6 // after ph going upto 7.6 last night back down to 6 in morning. going to get some sodium bicarbonate today.
Day 25 - // Amm = 0.5ppm // Nitrite = 2-5 // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 7.2 // added quite abit of bicarb last night + ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 26 - // Amm = 2ppm // Nitrite = 2-5 // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 7.2 //
Day 27 - // Amm = 1ppm // Nitrite = .5 // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 7.2 //
Day 28 - // Amm = 0ppm // Nitrite = .5 // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 6.4 // added ammonia upto 4ppm and some bicarb
Day 29 - // Amm = 2ppm // Nitrite = .5 // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 7.6 //
Day 30 - // Amm = 0ppm // Nitrite = showing grey after 2 minutes?? // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 7.4 // added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 31 - // Amm = .5ppm // Nitrite = 0ppm ? // Nitrate = 5-10 // PH = 7.4 // added 9mls ammonia up to 4-5 ppm
Day 32 - // Amm = 0 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 80 // PH = 6.4 // added 9mls ammonia upto 4-5ppm + some bicarb
Day 32 - // Amm = 0 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 10 // PH = 7.6 // added 9mls
Day 33 - // Amm = 0.25 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.6 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 34 - // Amm = 0.50 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.2 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 35 - // Amm = 0 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6.8 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 36 - // Amm = 0.5 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6.4 // added 5 mls ammonia +bicarb
Day 37 - // Amm = 0.25 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.6 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 38 - // Amm = 0.50 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.6 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 39 - // Amm = 1 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.6 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 40 - // Amm = 0.5 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 7.2 // added 5mls ammonia
Day 41 - // Amm = 0.25 // Nitrite = HIGH // Nitrate = 5 // PH = 6.8 // added 5mls ammonia + bicarb
Day 42 - // 90% water change - added ammonia + bicarb - amm = 5ppm // nitrite 2 // nitrate 5 // ph 8
Day 43 - // amm = 1.0 // nitrite = 2 // nitrate = 5 // ph = 7.8
Day 44 - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 5 // nitrate 5 // ph = 8.0 - added amm upto 3ppm
Day 45 - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 5 // nitrate 5 // ph = 8.0 - added amm upto 3ppm
Day 46 - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 3-5 // nitrate 80 // ph = 8.0 - added amm upto 3ppm - added mature filter media last night
Day 46PM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 8.0 - qualification week started, added ammonia upto 5ppm tonight on the 12 hour mark
Day 47AM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0.5 // nitrate 80 // ph = 8.0 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 47PM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0.25 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 48AM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 48PM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 49AM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 49PM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 50AM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm
Day 50PM - // amm = 0 // nitrite = 0 // nitrate 80 // ph = 7.6 - added ammonia upto 4ppm

 

[doresy]

It'll drown in there!

 

[danb]

It'll drown in there!

It can be his first swimming lessons . . .

 

[waterdrop]

It'll drown in there!

 

[danb]

okay 4 days in and there hasnt been any changes in the water peramters; however i turned the light on for the first time and noticed some of the cat litter had come to the surface of the sand, im guessing it was air bubbles pushing it up. Should i remove this? if this happens when the fish are in will the cat litter harm them aswell as the gasses?

Also i noticed on the intake of my filter like white stringy stuff all around is and small white pieces floating through the tank, any ideas?

Danny

 

[joeskandal]

you from UK? if so where did you get your ammonia?

 

[Rb_]

you from UK? if so where did you get your ammonia?

Boots are back selling it in the UK, after a long look I found some (It does take some looking for however)

 

[danb]

i got my ammonia from homebase its the 9.5% concentrate stuff, no bubbles or anything when you shake it up. apparently quite alot of people from the uk on here have bought it and used it successfully.

 

[fatheadminnow]

okay 4 days in and there hasnt been any changes in the water peramters; however i turned the light on for the first time and noticed some of the cat litter had come to the surface of the sand, im guessing it was air bubbles pushing it up. Should i remove this? if this happens when the fish are in will the cat litter harm them aswell as the gasses?

Also i noticed on the intake of my filter like white stringy stuff all around is and small white pieces floating through the tank, any ideas?

Danny

When there are different sized pieces of sand mixed together, the larger pieces always make it to the surface. This could happen with some water movement in your tank, such as your filter. This should not harm the fish, the cat liter that is.

The white pieces are probably some sort of fungus or algae. Do you keep your lights on in your aquarium, or just turn them on to look at the tank? Also, is this tank near any windows where it can get natural light?

-FHM

 

[danb]

okay 4 days in and there hasnt been any changes in the water peramters; however i turned the light on for the first time and noticed some of the cat litter had come to the surface of the sand, im guessing it was air bubbles pushing it up. Should i remove this? if this happens when the fish are in will the cat litter harm them aswell as the gasses?

Also i noticed on the intake of my filter like white stringy stuff all around is and small white pieces floating through the tank, any ideas?

Danny

When there are different sized pieces of sand mixed together, the larger pieces always make it to the surface. This could happen with some water movement in your tank, such as your filter. This should not harm the fish, the cat liter that is.

The white pieces are probably some sort of fungus or algae. Do you keep your lights on in your aquarium, or just turn them on to look at the tank? Also, is this tank near any windows where it can get natural light?

-FHM

Cheers for the reply, the white stuff looks like if you put milk in the microwave like a layer of skin, but see through. The tank doesnt have the light on and isnt near any direct sunlight. I just put the light on today to take a quick look. I didnt make the cat litter damp before i added the water. Just put the cat litter in the tank, sand on top then water.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I think everything is fine, I would just keep moving along and see what happens!

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

The what sheets/films are probably biofilms. They form all over the interior surfaces in tanks and are much more in evidence at first in new tanks. That particular thing goes away on its own eventually or doesn't come back after being cleaned by you later on after cycling is over.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[danb]

Good glad to hear it! Ill leave the catlitter where it is for the time being as quit abit of it has moved up through the sand. When the cycle is done ill suck some of the sand and catlitter out with the gravel cleaner and replace with alot more sand.

 

[danb]

9 days in and no change . . . Is this normal?

Danny

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yes, this is normal. Sometimes, me included, people do not start to see a drop in Ammonia until around 20 days. Patience plays a huge part in a fishless cycle, where the happiness and ease of mind comes in the end when you know you did the best thing for your fish!

What kind of ammonia are you using? Are you sure it is only water and ammonia (maybe some bonding agent) listed in the ingredients, if there are ingredients listed that is. lol

-FHM