56 Gallon Cycle With Seeded Media...

[eaglesaquarium]

I have concluded my cycle on the 10 gallon tank after 27 days, and a 3 day "qualifying week". I had three consecutive zero readings after 12 hours, and now that my new filter has arrived for the 56 gallon, it is time to ramp it up!

(For anyone who has followed the previous threads, the deposits that developed in my tank were iron from the water main. The water company has gotten a lot of reports from folks in my area. I figure the filter should clear this out when water is added, so no big deal. Advise if I am incorrect. )


Tank stats:
56 gallon (U.S.) Marineland Column style (30" x 18" x 24")
1 Penguin 200 filter with biowheel, 2nd biowheel and ceramic media in the rear (2nd 200 will be added shortly)
Fluval M200 - 200 Watt heater.
18W T8 "Natural Daylight" bulb


Tap Stats:

pH: 7.0
kH: 3 degrees
gH: 5 degrees
NH3: 0.25ppm (my water company uses chloramine)
NO2: 0ppm
NO3: 0ppm


(I think with stats like this that discus would be an ideal fit for my water, but I don't want discus!)

My future stocking plans are listed in my sig, but in case any one is interested here goes:

15 'salt and pepper' corydoras (corydoras habrosus)
15 harlequin rasboras
10-15 other shoaling variety... one of the following: five banded barbs, cherry barbs, black phantom tetra, bloodfin tetra, black skirt tetra, also considering dwarf rainbowfish (key criteria are, color and shoaling behavior)
4 apistogrammas (1m, 3f)... eventually... Reasons for the delay - they are expensive and more sensitive, so I want to make sure I have things right first.


Plant plans: Low tech, low light, low maintenance...
18W T8 "Natural daylight" bulb.
I plan on some crypts, anubias, mosses, etc. Nothing fancy, but hopefully still very attractive.

Substrate will be fluorite in the planted areas, and sand in the foreground for the corydoras to play in. I am currently on the lookout for interesting natural decor - rock formations or bogwood. Any sources available for cheap (yet still attractive and safe) ones?


This cycle is beginning with media that has been processing 4ppm in a 10 gallon tank (1.5mL NH3) in under 12 hours. Now it will need to cycle 8.5mL NH3. (I wonder how long it will take...)
FISHLESS CYCLE LOG:

Day 1 - 5/27/11 - 07:00 (0hrs) dosed to 4-5ppm NH3. and so it begins...
Day 1, 5/27/11 - 19:00 (12hrs) pH: 7.2, NH3: 2ppm, NO2: 2ppm, NO3: 40ppm, temp 82F dosed with baking soda
Day 2, 5/28/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 7.6, NH3: 1ppm, NO2: 5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed with baking soda
Day 2, 5/28/11 - 19:00 (36hrs) pH: 7.8, NH3: 0.5ppm, NO2: 5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed with baking soda
Day 3, 5/29/11 - 07:00 (48hrs) pH: 8.2, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 1-2ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 82F dosed with NH3 4ppm
Day 4, 5/30/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: N/A, NH3: 0.25ppm, NO2: 4-5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F
Day 5, 5/31/11 - 07:00 (48hrs) pH: 8.0, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 2.0ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to 3ppm
Day 6, 6/01/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 7.6, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to 3ppm
Day 7, 6/02/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 7.6, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: >5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to 3ppm
Day 8, 6/03/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 7.6, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: >5ppm, NO3: 80+ppm, temp 83F dosed to 3ppm
***completed a pwc after adding sand and large rocks to the tank.***
Day 9, 6/04/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 7.0, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: >5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to 2.5ppm
Day 10, 6/05/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: N/A, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to 2.5ppm
Day 11, 6/06/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 7.6, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 2-5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to ~2.75ppm
Day 12, 6/07/11 - 07:00 (24hrs) pH: 6.8, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 1-2ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F dosed to ~3ppm
Day 13, 6/08/11 - 07:00 (24hrs), pH: 8.0, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: >5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 81F dosed to ~3ppm
Day 14, 6/09/11 - 07:00 (24hrs), pH: 8.0, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: >5ppm, NO3:N/A, temp 81F dosed to ~3ppm
50% PWC
Day 15, 6/10/11 - 07:00 (24hrs), pH: N/A, NH3: 0ppm, NO3: 1ppm, NO3: N/A, temp: 81F dosed to ~3ppm
75% PWC
Day 16, 6/11/11 - 07:00 (24hrs), pH: N/A, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 0.25ppm, NO3:N/A, temp: 81F dosed to 3ppm
Day 17, 6/12/11 - 07:00 (24hrs), pH: 8.4, NH3: 0ppm, NO2: 2ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 82F dosed to 4ppm
Day 18, 6/13/11 - 07:00 (24hrs), pH: N/A, NH3: 0.25ppm, NO2: 5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 81Fdosed to 4ppm

 

[The chilly dipper]

so you finally have nearly everything in place.
how did you get around the original filter fitting problem?

the penguin is indeed a mighty beast

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I ordered a Penguin 200, and will be trading in my 350 for a 200 as well. So, I will have two 200's (one on each side of the annoying bracket) instead of one 350. The 200s move 200gph, while the 350 only 350gph. So, I've actually increased my flow by a significant portion. THe 200's have extensions to the intake. I am thinking of putting both the extensions on one and have the other up high to bring water into the filters from different levels of the tank.


I have to still package up my 350 and ship it to Marineland. The reason I went this way, versus scrapping the entire filter is that the 200 uses the exact same media as the 350. The same biowheel, and the same cartridges. In fact the only real difference is that I will have two smaller pumps instead of one bigger one. The filter media areas will be the same, in the end. I've added a bag of ceramics to the back for now, along with the extra biowheel until the other 200 comes. I will be rotating the biowheels in the proper place and in the back of the filter, until the new one comes. That should keep each on a pretty similar level in terms of bacteria and will definitely keep them both cycled up.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

only 18watts total over 56 gallons? thats really low!! Is there more than one bulb? I have 2x39watts over 50g and I feel it could be brighter, aesthetics wise.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I thought so too... That's the light fixture and single bulb that came with the tank. I might look to upgrade at some point. But for now, I will stick with what it came with. (That's why I need low lighting plants... Cause this light isn't going to provide much.)

 

[Randi]

So jealous!! My water is in no way suited for discus and that's what I desperately want.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yeah sorry... I actually am a bit concerned about potential pH crashes in the future.

 

[Kaybear11]

I bought a very nice big piece of mopani wood from petmountain.com for about $27 with shipping. Pretty cheap compared to the stores around here, found a similar one at a local pet store for $45.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Not so surprising results for 12 hours.


Day 1, 5/27/11 - 19:00 pH: 7.2, NH3: 2ppm, NO2: 2ppm, NO3: 40ppm, temp 82F

Given that the filter media was only munching through 1.5 mL in 12 hours before the switch, it is not surprising that the colony couldn't handle the full load on a 56 gallon tank ~8mL. The fact that it was down to about 2ppm makes me feel pretty good that it may very well be zero by morning. If so, then I think this cycle should be very short, indeed.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Morning stats:

pH: 7.8, NH3: 1ppm, NO2: 5ppm, NO3: N/A, temp 83F


Not surprisingly, the bacs aren't able to keep up with so much ammonia yet. They are working on it though. They will probably have munched through by tonight, but I won't redose until tomorrow morning. Then we will see if it can munch through in 24 hours. Hopefully. Once that happens, the rest should go quickly.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, it took 48 hours for the 4ppm ammonia to be processed, but it did clear this morning. The nitrite is still a little behind (not surprising that they would be behind, since the colony needs to be so much bigger).


I finally got the pH up to where I want it for the remainder of the cycle. (It's amazing how much bigger a 56 gallon tank is compared to a 10 gallon! )


The final pieces are falling into place now for my summer of travels. My dad is willing to take care of my fish while I am away in addition to my garden. I've already gotten him some sugar free chocolates (diabetic), what else should I look into getting for him? I was thinking about a gift certificate to a local restaurant. (And maybe a gas card with prices at near record levels!)

 

[brian2708]

Why don't you get him a fish tank?

Everyone loves fish.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

He had a tank for years. He gave it up about 20 years ago. I'm not sure that he is interested in doing it again. (He's the one that gave me the 10 gallon tank I was using previously to cycle my filter.)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, the A-bacs are catching up quickly, the N-bacs are a little behind still. I'm not sure that its a bad thing. There needs to be more N-bacs than A-bacs, but it is nice to see the A-bacs coming along nicely. They should process the full dose in 24 hours tomorrow. I will wait for the ammonia to drop all the way to zero, and give the N-bacs a chance to catch up.