Collegefish's Fishless Cycle (Updated Photos And Video June 04)

[CollegeFish]

Following on from this other thread;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/359206-new-tropical-tank/page__pid__2997290#entry2997290

I've now started my cycle.

The filter sponge has been seeded with another tanks sponge, its running at 24.5c and won't seem to budge above that. Its set to 34c and can do a tank of 60l. I've turned off the airstone as this might have been allowing heat to escape.

Tap Water Reading; Ammonia = 0mg/l, Nitrite = 0-0.2mg/l, Nitrate = 15-25mg/l

5ml Ammonia added 03/05 - 4.30pm

03/05 4.30pm - Ammonia = +2mg/l, Nitrite = 0-0.2mg/l, Nitrate 15-25mg/l, pH 6.5/7

04/05 8.30am - Ammonia = +2mg/l, Nitrite = 0mg/l, Nitrate 15-25mg/l, pH 6.5

I guess the bacteria broke down the little nitrite that was present and the Ammonia is being broken down slowly..

Will check again at 4.30pm.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Did you check the position of your heater as mentioned in the linked thread? I found water of 28/29 worked well..

Terry.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You might want to up the pH for the cycle, that's very low. 8.0 or so is much better for the bacteria.

 

[CollegeFish]

Yeah I changed the heater position before I started. Its creeping up to 26 at the moment. As for pH, my tap water is like that so its always going to be 6.5/7

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yeah I changed the heater position before I started. Its creeping up to 26 at the moment. As for pH, my tap water is like that so its always going to be 6.5/7

You can add baking SODA (sodium bicarbonate) to raise the pH. It won't hurt anything, and it will help the bacteria.

 

[CollegeFish]

I've just tried another type of pH kit and its reading pH 7. If the ammonia levels don't drop I'll add some tomorrow.

I just tested ammonia and its still above 2mg/l. My kit is for very low levels of ammonia concentration, so unless it drops below 2mg/l I won't know.

I should have an alternative test kit on Friday, so we'll see.

Temp has also picked up to 30c

 

[CollegeFish]

Ammonia was still over the level at which my test kit could handle so I'm bringing out the big guns. This is quite a specialist bit of kit, which can read ammonia levels (and various other samples with the right reagents and colourimeter programme). Its going to be a lesson in using it, as well as seeing precisely how much ammonia is present.

I've done a 10litre water change to drop it a bit, and this test will give me a reading from 1ml of water as to how much ammonia is in it, between 0-12mg/l, or from 0.5ml of water a reading of 0-50mg/l.

 

[CollegeFish]

Reading of 1.70mg/l of Ammonia.

I think the new test and the fact its back down to a level that is low enough for my other test kit to analyse is good. Hopefully tomorrows testing will show a drop in ammonia. I can't do many colourimeter tests as it's 45 pounds for 25 tests! Don't even ask how much the colourimeter is!

 

[CollegeFish]

Reading since the last one has shown 0.08mg/l and 0.10mg/l. Quite a drop since last night. Nitrite readings are coming up at zero.
Nitrate is fairly high.

Plants will be added later and I may re-dose.

Does a drop of 1.6mg/l of ammonia in 12 hours with no increase in Nitrite seem odd? Would the bacteria I seeded the tank with have dealt with that?

 

[CollegeFish]

Have left the tank to sort itself out with regards to ammonia.

Since I've had the tank up and running I've bought 5 types of plant and also added a couple bits of granite. The background has also been replaced with some black card. I've also bodged together a light fitting and modded the hood so I could attach an Arcadia T8 light fitting we had hanging around - bought two tubes for it, one as backup.

Ammonia is showing as 0mg/l and so is nitrite.

I've just ordered an API Freshwater Masterkit through the college to save using the other test kits aswell.

Will be adding 5 tetra on Monday and will continue to test the water daily to make sure its handling the addition of fish okay.


Here's a photo;

 

[waterdrop]

Can't tell if the plants are artificial or not. Nice looking tank though. WD

 

[CollegeFish]

Plants are real, not sure on the types though as they were bought for us by a student. They do look great though Can find out the specifics if you're interested in any of them.

 

[waterdrop]

Unfortunately, plants that are green and white are not underwater plants. There are a great number of landscaping (yes, terrestrial plants for yards) that are sold as aquarium plants. They begin to die after a bit and of course as they deteriorate, the dead cells are consumed by heterotrophic bacteria and turned in to ammonia. This can make a cycle more difficult as it means your ammonia dosing is not the thing in control. Of the two darker green plants, the one on the right may be a sword, which would be ok, but I don't recognize the one on the left.

WD

 

[CollegeFish]

Thanks WD. I'll keep an eye on it. It was sold as a set of 5 plants, I presume they were kept in tanks before they were purchased so I'd of thought it would have died before reaching me? Either way, I'll watch it and if it starts to show signs of dieing I'll remove it.

 

[OldMan47]

It could take a couple of months for that terrestrial plant to die off. They are tough plants even under water. That plant would be better off in a flower pot on a window sill though.