And So The Fishless Cycle Begin's...

[DannyBlackbourn]

Well it does in a minute once I've had a quick rest

Just got in with the Argos Play sand and a bottle of Homebase Household Ammonia!

I have a really crap heater though and need to get the water temperature to about 30degrees Celsius before I do anything or don't it matter?
NB:At the moment it is sitting at 47degrees C, and I wanted to drop it before adding the sand and Ammonia.

Day 0 Cleaned and filled up the tank with tap water. Added StressZyme and water conditioner.

Test 1 left water for 24 hours before testing.
Water Temp: 47 Degrees Celsius (From now on I will just write DC)
Ammonia:0ppm
NitrIte:0ppm
NitrAte:5.0ppm
PH:7.8

Will add the sand once it's washed a bit later today and leave to rest.
Will also turn off the filter before sand is added, and won't turn it on again until the sand has settled. 24/48hours time.
Once the sand has settled I will then start to add the Ammonia!

 

[OldMan47]

The high temperature won't hurt the sand. Adding sand, which is obviously cooler, may help pull the temperature of the water down. The heater that sticks and brings tank temperatures that high should be removed and not put back. If it did that with fish in the tank, the fish would all die. You need to get the temperature down to around 30C but cooler will work also. I think I would do a very large water to change to bring the temperature down more. At 47C you may have killed any bacteria that happened to be present in the water so a fresh start might be a good idea.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Well I will see if the heater cools the water as I have turned down the temp dial. so fingers crossed on that one.
If not I will have to go out and buy a better heater which allows me to see what temp I am setting it to...

I am just starting the cycle in this tank so it wouldn't be so much of a fresh start anyway...

I will watch the temp closely and see if it does reduce.

I am just in the process of adding the sand now, quite surprised at how clean it was and what I have put in the tank so far has settled quite quickly!

I'm so happy haha

 

[OldMan47]

We really do not know where the bacteria come from that we grow in our filters. Some of the speculation is that they arrive with the tap water. A fresh start, in this case, means getting a start of a few bacteria from the tap that have not been harmed by the extremely high temperatures. It would really try your patience to cycle a sterile tank.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

I'm going to see if the temp will drop to < 30DC

Since I have been out it has dropped to 33DC which is good!

I probably will change the water tomorrow or at least 50% just in case... and also add the Ammonia.

So my Cycle starts tomorrow!
I cannot wait

 

[OldMan47]

At 33C you probably have the temperature low enough to get away with cycling but the fish will need lower temperatures to survive.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Yeah I know that... Just didn't know the temp setting when I put in the heater. Stupid thing.

At least I have managed to bring the temp down anyway! Will start the cycle first thing in the morning...
Off to bed now