A Quick Hello And Some Questions

[oswoldy]

Hi All,
My Girlfriend and I have just invested in a tank and have begun the Fishless Cycling Process. Since I put the water in the tank even before I started the cycling process the water has been really cloudy and just would not clear so I started the Cycling Process anyway, any Ideas what could cause this? I started the Cycling Process on Sunday and have only managed to reach 1ppm of Ammonia so far, it takes aaaaggggeeeesssss! I only have plastic plants in the tank as I dont want to jump in at the depend and have to look after too much from the off, when I get a little better I may try some live plants!

Here are some pics of our tank

The Day We Got The Tank

The Start Of The Cycling Process

However The Popsock Was Not Porous Enough So I Changed It To This

My Water Readings Straight From The Tap And Left To Stand For 24hrs Are

PH: 7.4
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0

Any Advice/Criticism Welcomed.

Thanks For Looking
Mike

 

[hollanda88]

What size is the tank, is it the fluval roma 90L ?

did u treat the water and wash all the ornaments and gravel throughly?

andrew

 

[oswoldy]

What size is the tank, is it the fluval roma 90L ?

did u treat the water and wash all the ornaments and gravel throughly?

andrew

Hiya,
Its a Fluval Roma 125. I Declorinated the water and washed everything before putting it into the tank.

Mike

 

[Colin_T]

The cloudy water is nothing to worry about. It can be caused by dust in the gravel, or bacteria breaking down organic matter that is rotting in the tank somewhere (usually the gravel). If you don't like it then drain the tank and refill it. Otherwise it should clear up in a week or so. You sometimes get a film on the inside of the glass. This can be wiped off with a clean soap free sponge.

 

[oswoldy]

The cloudy water is nothing to worry about. It can be caused by dust in the gravel, or bacteria breaking down organic matter that is rotting in the tank somewhere (usually the gravel). If you don't like it then drain the tank and refill it. Otherwise it should clear up in a week or so. You sometimes get a film on the inside of the glass. This can be wiped off with a clean soap free sponge.

Ah right I expect I will just leave it until after the Cycling Process and if its still like it then, ill start to worry. TBH I expect its the gravel made worse by a bacterial bloom!

Mike

 

[RedeyesUK]

Hi Mike, and welcome!

Just interested to know, how are you actually cycling the tank? Looking at the pics, I'm guessing you've got some sort of food or something in there to produce ammonia?

wouldn't worry about the cloudiness just yet, it's probably dust and so on leeching out from the substrate (yes, it'll still do that even after you've washed it!), or maybe (hopefully!) a bacteria bloom, which would indicate your cycle is underway. Alternatively, it could be whatever you're putting in to cycle is breaking down.

 

[doresy]

The cloudiness is most likely from the substrate and will take a couple of weeks to clear.

So what are you using for your ammonia source?

 

[hollanda88]

You have chosen a nice tank there i love the roma series and the filters are really good and reliable. I wouldn't empty the tank as it will proberbly have cleared by the time you need to put any fish in

andrew

 

[oswoldy]

I am using fish food as I am asthmatic I didnt really want 100% Ammonia in the house so this is the next best way all be it a little slower

Mike

 

[RedeyesUK]

That's fine, using fish food won't necessarily be any slower, but a bit more difficult to control.

The food breaking down will probably be contributing to the cloudiness though - but I wouldn't worry about it too much, it should go away in time!

 

[lil-x-me...x]

i have no idea when it comes to cycling tanks, as i did mine with fish and it actually didnt turn out too bad, but never done it fishless really...well i have but many years ago. good luck anyway x

 

[Colin_T]

just keep the ammonia levels below 5ppm. Often fish food will cause the levels to go above that and the cycling process will stall. If that happens, remove most of the food and do a big water change.

 

[hollanda88]

just keep the ammonia levels below 5ppm. Often fish food will cause the levels to go above that and the cycling process will stall. If that happens, remove most of the food and do a big water change.

and try not to let ammonia go above about 8ppm

 

[oswoldy]

If I do decide to go down the ammonia route, where would I be able to buy it. I have looked in Tescos, Sainsburys and B&Q but could not see any anywhere.

Mike

 

[weejen]

homebase own brand ammonia its like 97p