Anyone Starting Out?

[CezzaXV]

There's one specific type of gravel I've seen in my local garden centre that I've got my heart set on now. I was there today but wasn't expecting to find a tank to suit my needs this week (I was planning on ordering one), so didn't buy the gravel today. Wish I had now!

Ordered a bottle of ammonia now. Seems that so far, EVERYTHING of importance was one of those "wish I had ordered it sooner!" deals. I knew I had to cycle my tank, but I didnt really read up on it til tonight and I naively assumed the bacteria would just grow in the water by themselves

 

[HayzH]

There's one specific type of gravel I've seen in my local garden centre that I've got my heart set on now. I was there today but wasn't expecting to find a tank to suit my needs this week (I was planning on ordering one), so didn't buy the gravel today. Wish I had now!

Ordered a bottle of ammonia now. Seems that so far, EVERYTHING of importance was one of those "wish I had ordered it sooner!" deals. I knew I had to cycle my tank, but I didnt really read up on it til tonight and I naively assumed the bacteria would just grow in the water by themselves

yeah..i know..i've had my tank set up over two weeks now....if i had known about the cycle 2 weeks ago..i would be nearly there now too

My cycle in a bucket (due to tank cracking) is on day 2, the upside of mature media, half the ammonia has been processed in under 12 hours!

nice one overload...looking good

 

[LilyRose Tank]

on average fishless cycling takes 4-6 weeks. one week for ammonia to begin processing ( if lucky), then a further two weeks for nitrite to be processed, and a further week to check if levels return to 0 within 12 hours, every 12 hours, for a week....then you empty water. add dechlorinated water. empty, add dechlorinated water and get the fish in.
i am on day 4 now, so the long wait begins

 

[Branwyn]

i am in my first week of two new tanks (210L) first timer. was planning a fishless cycle but a numpty friend bought me 10 x 3 lined corydoras so split into 2 groups of five and now doing a fish in cycle if i like it or not

i am using sand substrate mainly for the corys and artificial plants as hoping to stock with spotted silver dollars.

had to do emerg water change for my unexpected guests so ammonia and nitrite are zero'd and PH is 7.2

 

[HayzH]

on average fishless cycling takes 4-6 weeks. one week for ammonia to begin processing ( if lucky), then a further two weeks for nitrite to be processed, and a further week to check if levels return to 0 within 12 hours, every 12 hours, for a week....then you empty water. add dechlorinated water. empty, add dechlorinated water and get the fish in.
i am on day 4 now, so the long wait begins

i so wish i found this site 3 weeks ago!!
my ph has dropped from 8.3 to 8.0 is that ok Lily rose?

i am in my first week of two new tanks (210L) first timer. was planning a fishless cycle but a numpty friend bought me 10 x 3 lined corydoras so split into 2 groups of five and now doing a fish in cycle if i like it or not

i am using sand substrate mainly for the corys and artificial plants as hoping to stock with spotted silver dollars.

had to do emerg water change for my unexpected guests so ammonia and nitrite are zero'd and PH is 7.2

I saw hun...how frustrating
well done for finding out though...wish i'd known this when i had my mollies

 

[CezzaXV]

I've only just ordered my test kit tonight, so I don't even know what pH I've got so I can start looking at fish! Sucks because my original plan was to get some neons, then by the time I'd figured out what I wanted next, enough time would've passed for it to be safe to add more. This way I'll probably know exactly what I want by the end of the cycle then I'll have difficulty holding myself back!

I've read the sticky on fishless cycling, but I'm a bit confused. It recommends that you keep adding ammonia during the nitrite phase i.e. when ammonia goes down to 0, add more to get it up to 3-4ppm. I don't get how you're supposed to know if the nitrite bacteria are working if you keep adding ammonia? Like, how will the nitrite ever go if you're continually adding ammonia?

 

[HayzH]

I've only just ordered my test kit tonight, so I don't even know what pH I've got so I can start looking at fish! Sucks because my original plan was to get some neons, then by the time I'd figured out what I wanted next, enough time would've passed for it to be safe to add more. This way I'll probably know exactly what I want by the end of the cycle then I'll have difficulty holding myself back!

I've read the sticky on fishless cycling, but I'm a bit confused. It recommends that you keep adding ammonia during the nitrite phase i.e. when ammonia goes down to 0, add more to get it up to 3-4ppm. I don't get how you're supposed to know if the nitrite bacteria are working if you keep adding ammonia? Like, how will the nitrite ever go if you're continually adding ammonia?

if the nitrite go back to 0 in 12 hours...your tank is cycled?? is that right Pro's??

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I've only just ordered my test kit tonight, so I don't even know what pH I've got so I can start looking at fish! Sucks because my original plan was to get some neons, then by the time I'd figured out what I wanted next, enough time would've passed for it to be safe to add more. This way I'll probably know exactly what I want by the end of the cycle then I'll have difficulty holding myself back!

I've read the sticky on fishless cycling, but I'm a bit confused. It recommends that you keep adding ammonia during the nitrite phase i.e. when ammonia goes down to 0, add more to get it up to 3-4ppm. I don't get how you're supposed to know if the nitrite bacteria are working if you keep adding ammonia? Like, how will the nitrite ever go if you're continually adding ammonia?

if the nitrite go back to 0 in 12 hours...your tank is cycled?? is that right Pro's??

If your tank can process 4ppm of ammonia & nitrite(giving you 0pmm for both) in 12 hours for 5 days in row you are ready for the fish's

Dont forget to turn you heaters back down guys when you ready for fish

 

[CezzaXV]

Ah okay, awesome stuff. So you're basically waiting for the time when you can have 4ppm of ammonia in the morning and have both ammonia and nitrite at 0 by the evening. The sticky is really helpful but I get lost in the words, I just need an idiotproof guide

The heater in my tank is a bit weird. There's no temperature or wattage gauge on it, just a dial with plus and minus (is this normal?). I think it's going to take some trial and error to get it to the temperature I want. You turn it left or right when the current temperature is too high or low, and a light will come on when it's working. Alternatively, I guess I could try and get the water the right temperature before turning the heater on, then adjusting it so the light is off?

What sort of temperature should we be aiming for during cycling?

 

[HayzH]

Ah okay, awesome stuff. So you're basically waiting for the time when you can have 4ppm of ammonia in the morning and have both ammonia and nitrite at 0 by the evening. The sticky is really helpful but I get lost in the words, I just need an idiotproof guide

The heater in my tank is a bit weird. There's no temperature or wattage gauge on it, just a dial with plus and minus (is this normal?). I think it's going to take some trial and error to get it to the temperature I want. You turn it left or right when the current temperature is too high or low, and a light will come on when it's working. Alternatively, I guess I could try and get the water the right temperature before turning the heater on, then adjusting it so the light is off?

What sort of temperature should we be aiming for during cycling?

i know this....hhehehe... 30 c
what make is the heater?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Ah okay, awesome stuff. So you're basically waiting for the time when you can have 4ppm of ammonia in the morning and have both ammonia and nitrite at 0 by the evening. The sticky is really helpful but I get lost in the words, I just need an idiotproof guide

The heater in my tank is a bit weird. There's no temperature or wattage gauge on it, just a dial with plus and minus (is this normal?). I think it's going to take some trial and error to get it to the temperature I want. You turn it left or right when the current temperature is too high or low, and a light will come on when it's working. Alternatively, I guess I could try and get the water the right temperature before turning the heater on, then adjusting it so the light is off?

What sort of temperature should we be aiming for during cycling?

i know this....hhehehe... 30 c
what make is the heater?

Young grasshopper is correct lol

The + & - on heaters is very common but so is there inaccuracy. Best bet is get a Alcohol thermometer (approx £2) and adjust as you need always trust the Alcohol thermometer over the heaters dails

 

[HayzH]

Ah okay, awesome stuff. So you're basically waiting for the time when you can have 4ppm of ammonia in the morning and have both ammonia and nitrite at 0 by the evening. The sticky is really helpful but I get lost in the words, I just need an idiotproof guide

The heater in my tank is a bit weird. There's no temperature or wattage gauge on it, just a dial with plus and minus (is this normal?). I think it's going to take some trial and error to get it to the temperature I want. You turn it left or right when the current temperature is too high or low, and a light will come on when it's working. Alternatively, I guess I could try and get the water the right temperature before turning the heater on, then adjusting it so the light is off?

What sort of temperature should we be aiming for during cycling?

i know this....hhehehe... 30 c
what make is the heater?

Young grasshopper is correct lol

The + & - on heaters is very common but so is there inaccuracy. Best bet is get a Alcohol thermometer (approx £2) and adjust as you need always trust the Alcohol thermometer over the heaters dails

ahh haaa grasshopper!! see it is sinking in

 

[CezzaXV]

I think it must be a Marina heater - it came with the tank. I know it's a 100W one. My tank came with one of those sticker thermometers but it only goes up to 30 degrees. In any case, I realised I should probably invest in a glass one anyway as a backup and so that I can make sure that the water I use for changes isn't going to hugely affect the temperature, especially since the heater instructions say it can take 10-12 hours for the water to reach the desired temperature.


I'm glad I joined these forums, I've learnt alot in the 7 hours since I joined

 

[HayzH]

I think it must be a Marina heater - it came with the tank. I know it's a 100W one.

I'm glad I joined these forums, I've learnt alot in the 7 hours since I joined

ive joined 3 days ago....and had 66 posts.... we'll be experts in no time at this rate
can you put up a pic?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

My tank came with one of those sticker thermometers but it only goes up to 30 degrees. I'm glad I joined these forums, I've learnt alot in the 7 hours since I joined

They are as close to useless as you can get sorry, you can breath on them and they will change lol