Recent content by Hungrydoug

Evening. Came in tonight to see that Sharon the white mollie seems to have popeye. I'd like to help her so that Ozzy still has someone to swim about the tank with. (no, I didn't choose tha names!) Tank size: 65l pH: 7.2 ammonia: 0ppm nitrite: 0ppm nitrate: 15ppm kH: no idea gH:no idea tank...

I think given half a chance they would probably jump into my hand and eat the food from there! And it's great to see how much they've filled out since I bought them, the colours are really helped by the black background and substrate too!

It's like I've emerged from a long tunnel into the light at long last :) Thanks must go to everyone who had helped or offered words of encouragement along the way. We currently have 6 harlequin rasboras and two white mollies (not my choice, but that's what SWMBO liked) Still planning to get...

I don't think that's a particularly bad idea. My fishless cycles took 16 and 10 days to process the first 4ppm of ammonia and it was a bit disheartening to see virtually no change day on day for two weeks. I would perhaps dose slightly higher (say 4.5ppm) to give the bacteria something to get...

SUCCESS!!!! Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday have had double zeros at 12 hours, so after 163 days I'm finally ready for fish. Just had to share!

Now I'm getting really annoyed! Added the 4ppm of ammonia yesterday morning so of course last night's test was off the scale! Same result tonight so I can only imagine I did something wrong with the test yesterday. Did a nearly 100% water change tonight and the nitrite test just after showed...

Of course the second I bemoan my lack of progress in processing the nitrite last night's test result was 0ppm! Dosed 4ppm of ammonia this morning and am interested to see what the test results are this evening. Nearly there (at long last)!

Apparently they're only doing mail order, but I phone their number the day i went through and it just rang out. Anyway... Nitrates have finally shown an increase again after the previous spike so I'm hoping that the nitrite spike will soon finally be over. Currently at day 66 of the fishless...

The good news is that the nitrate is beginning to rise again, (indicating that the nitrite is being processed?) Hopefully not long now! Started looking at fish with regard to stocking yesterday and was a bit shocked to see the Ultimate Aquatics in Cupar has closed!

Thanks OM47, a few paper towels mopped it up. Did a 75% water change and the nitrite test immediately after had the drops turning straight to purple in the bottom of the tube. Guess I've got another wait on my hands for the nitrite bacteria to build!

Thanks guys. This is pretty much the stage I got to in the first attempt (except the ammonia was taking around 36 hours to clear instead of <24 hours) so I was planning on a 75% water change on tonight and redose everything. The nitrite spike should be over soon? I’ve also noticed that I have...

Morning. Been busy getting a promotion at work and building a shed and things, so not had much time to browse the forum, however I've been continuing with the testing and ammonia dosing. I'm beginning to get a bit bored of the whole thing now! Second attempt at the fishless cycle is...

Don't know if I possibly developed the nitrite bacteria in the first 'phase' of my cycle but didn;t get as many of the ammonia bacteria which is why I'm not seeing the nitrite level rising but the nitrate level rising?

Sorry WD, meant to say I'd pick up another nitrite test to validate the readings of the first one. Ph and temperature readings added to first post.

No plants in the tank, all I have is the filter, the heater and the substrate. Didn't notice the lack of nitrite but looking at the frst cycle, the nitrite started rising before the ammonia started dropping. Might try and pick up a nitrite test at the weekend for comparison.