Brian's Fishless Cycle

[eaglesaquarium]

My understanding is that the best growth happens at higher pH and higher temps. The higher temps, of course, restricts the water's ability to hold oxygen and that's why it is important to cause as much surface disturbance as possible. The pH isn't overly important, but I believe the growth stops at 6.0. Adding baking soda to raise the pH serves two purposes. #1 - it raises the pH to the preferred level for the bacteria. #2 - it raises the buffering capacity of the water, which helps to protect against a pH crash later in the cycle.


At least that is my understanding of it.

 

[brian2708]

Good to see some nitrite again, and my pH has settled now.

I know it's an early test, but I am away tonight so unable to test.

 

[brian2708]

Day 11, 30th May 2011 - 22:00: Ammonia 0ppm Nitite 0ppm pH 7.6 - 7.8 **Dosed back upto 5ppm Ammonia**

Pleasing results tonight.

Now just to wait for both to reach 0 in 24hrs.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

They both have to fall to zero in 12 hours before the cycle is over...

 

[brian2708]

Yeah, just once it hits 24hours, it's time to go to 12hour testing, right?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yeah. The nitrite hitting zero is actually the end of phase two (the nitrite spike), so you could begin testing every 12 hours now if you wanted to. You are now in phase three. Testing ammonia every 12 is nice because it lets you know how close you are to the end. Once ammonia hits zero in 12, nitrite will soon follow.

 

[brian2708]

Ok, this mornings readings are as follows from dosing to 3ppm last night.

Day 13, 1st June 2011AM - 08:00: Ammonia 0ppm = Nitrite 0.25ppm

So a redose in on order for tonight? Then test tomorrow AM.

I noticed L-plates was dosing in the evening and then testing 12 hours afterwards which seems to save having to test every 12 hours.

 

[L_Plates]

I was dosing at 7 at night and checking when i got up for work at 7 in the morning, but i left re-dosing until 7 at night.

Which meant i could only run a 12hr check once a day that is correct.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yeah, that's it. Dose every 24, test every 12. You are squarely in phase three now, waiting for ammonia and nitrite to both be at zero when you test at 12 hours. When that happens you hit "phase four - the qualifying week". You want 7 consecutive days of zeros for ammonia and nitrite. That means that the colony is ready to take on fish. You can do a fairly large stocking at that point, with little fear of a mini-cycle. Obviously you still want to monitor the levels daily for a while to ensure that everything is going well, but unless a major catastrophe takes place or you are greatly overfeeding, all should be well.

 

[brian2708]

Day 14, 2nd June 2011AM - 20:00: **Dosed to ~4ppm Ammonia** = Nitrite 0ppm

Thought I'd test for Nitrite this evening as wanted to make sure it's being processed.

All looking good so far. Fingers crossed over the next few days my morning readings will be 0

 

[eaglesaquarium]

count my fingers in...

 

[brian2708]

Come on double zero's!

 

[brian2708]

pH is back to 6 again. . Thought something was up with it. Daily testing of pH from now on.

Bicarb added.

 

[The chilly dipper]

pH is back to 6 again. . Thought something was up with it. Daily testing of pH from now on.

Bicarb added.

i wonder why it keeps fluctuating (PH)???
NICE LOG UP TO YET !!!

 

[brian2708]

Millimeters away from Double zero processing. Can't wait!