Beanz8 Fishless Cycling Log

[beanz8]

Decided to start a new post to keep a more precise log.

Info
Juwel Vision 180
Tap water parameters were Ammonia - 0.25 | Nitrite 0 | Nitrate 0 | PH 7.2
Tank ph 7.6 (whilst cycling)
Temp 28'c
Following Add & Wait Method in beginners center.

Day 1-37: Waiting for Ammonia to drop from 5ppm - testing every few days - no results logged | Some water/gravel and a sponge that had been soaking in MILs fish tank added (dont think these did much).
Day 38: Ammonia 1ppm | Nitrite between 1ppm and 2ppm | Nitrate0ppm *redosed to 4ppm*
Day 39: Ammonia between 2-4 ppm | Nitrite between 0-0.25 | Nitrate between 20-40ppm
Day 40: Ammonia between 2-4 ppm | Nitrite between 0-0.25 (lighter blue than yesterday) | Nitrate 40 ppm
Day 41: Ammonia 2 ppm ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 40 ppm
Day 42: Ammonia 1ppm ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 40 ppm * redosed to 4ppm* (realised this was wrong should have waited till 0ppm)
Day 43: Ammonia 3 ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 40 +
Day 44: Ammonia 2 ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 40+
Day 45: Ammonia 1 ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 40-80ppm
Day 46: Ammonia 0.5 ¦ Nitrite 0.25 ¦ Nitrate 40-80 ppm
Day 47: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 ¦ Nitrate 40-80 *redosed to 3ppm*
Day 48: Ammonia 1-2 (didn't have time to test the others)
Day 49: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0.25 *redosed to 3ppm*
Day 50: Ammonia 0.5-1 ¦ Nitrite 1 ¦ Nitrate 80
Day 51: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 ¦ Nitrate 80 *redosed to 3ppm*
Day 52: Ammonia 0.5-1 ¦ Nitrite 0.5-1 ¦ Nitrate 80
Day 53: Ammonia 0.25 ¦ Nitrite 0 ¦ Nitrate 80+
Day 54: 90% water change due to pH of 6.0-6.2 - New pH 7.6 | Redosed to 3-4ppm
Day 55: Ammonia 1-2 ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 10
Day 56: Ammonia 0.5 ¦ Nitrite 0.25 ¦ Nitrate 10 - pH 7.2
Day 57: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 ¦ Nitrate 10 - pH 7.2 *redosed to 3-4ppm*
Day 58: Ammonia 0.5 ¦ Nitrite 0.25-0.50 ¦ pH 7.2
Day 59: Ammonia 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrite 0 ¦ Nitrate 10 *redosed to 3-4ppm*
Day 60: Ammonia 0.5 ¦ Nitrite 0.25-0.50
Day 61: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 *redosed to 3-4ppm*
Day 62: Ammonia 0.5-1 ¦ Nitrite 0.25 - ph 7.2 added bicarb
Day 63-64: too busy to test added 2ml of ammonia to keep bacteria going
Day 65: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 redosed to 3-4ppm
Day 66: Ammonia 0.5-1 ¦ Nitrite 0-0.25 ¦ Nitrate 20-40
Day 67: Ammonia 0 | Nitrite 0 *redosed to 3-4ppm*
Day 68: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 *redosed to 3-4ppm
Day 69: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 *redosed to 4ppm*
Day 70: Ammonia 0 ¦ Nitrite 0 *redosed to 4ppm*

 

[KittyKat]

A long cycle! But it should be quick now, especially if nitrite doesn't spike. Given that the nitrite is not off the scale, redosing before ammonia reaches 0 ppm is not a problem.. we generally recommend waiting until 0 ppm because nitrites of over 5ppm for prolonged periods of time can stall the cycle.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Actualy look very good, you have correctly spotted that you where dosing a bit early but now you are aware, this cycle should be well on its way soon.

The Nitrites are rising slightly so that is good.

Forget about testing for NitrAte for the time being as it is somthing that doesnt realy come into play until the nitrite spike & is one of the hardest tests to get right, even our experts still cock that one up.

Please keep us informed.


Tom

 

[beanz8]

My nitrites were higher, around 2ppm, then its dropped back down again and the Nitrates have started rising

 

[beanz8]

Remembering not to redose yet but glad the ammonia seems to be speeding up. Any more opinions?

 

[L_Plates]

Looking good to me buddy.

 

[beanz8]

Thanks L_Plates, just wish it would speed up more but i guess its good because i dont have any money for fish till the end of this month anyway lol.

It is rare for a Nitrite Spike not to happen, or do you think it will when this ammonia drops?

 

[L_Plates]

When the ammonia drops quicker it will happen.

Mine happend overnight no movement for weeks then bang in it kicked. I was getting 0 ammonia for over a week without any movement on the Nitrites being processed. Hold tight you will get there.

This is from my log.
Day 30, 2nd May 2011 - 17:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 31, 3rd May 2011 - 17:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: 2.00, Nitrates: 80ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 32, 4th May 2011 - 19:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: 0, Nitrates: 80ppm Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

LP

 

[Miles_hot]

time to start doing tests every 12 hours (but stay with doses once a day)

 

[beanz8]

Whats confused me is that Day 38 i got Ammonia 1ppm | Nitrite between 1ppm and 2ppm | Nitrate 10ppm *redosed to 4ppm ( this was the first redose i did) and then the day after my Nitrites dropped right down.

I will keep checking and keep updating to see what it does, i should learn by now that nothing i ever do is straight forward or follows trends like everyone else.

 

[KittyKat]

Nitrtite -> nitrate bacteria tend to multiply much faster than ammonia -> nitrite bactera.

 

[beanz8]

nitrite definitely 0.25ppm today looks like its on the rise again

 

[beanz8]

Ammonia down to 48 hours to clear.

 

[Claire121]

Nitrtite -> nitrate bacteria tend to multiply much faster than ammonia -> nitrite bactera.

Kitty Kat I thought it was the other way round or am I misunderstanding you ?

I thought I had read that the 'ammonia eating' bacteria grew first and grew more quickly than the bacteria that eats the nitrite?

 

[KittyKat]

Nitrtite -> nitrate bacteria tend to multiply much faster than ammonia -> nitrite bactera.

Kitty Kat I thought it was the other way round or am I misunderstanding you ?

I thought I had read that the 'ammonia eating' bacteria grew first and grew more quickly than the bacteria that eats the nitrite?

The ammonia -> nitrite bacteria do have food become available to them first, but from what I have observed, the nitrite -> nitrate bacteria often multiply at a faster rate if the same consentration of "food" is available to both. This is not always the case, sometimes it is the other way around.