Cycling Tank

[Swizz]

Tank in cycle, (Fishless Cycle - Using prawns) peddling at 1300 LPH. And I am now into day four. The water is just beginning to show sign of cloudiness.

PH 7-6
Nitrites (0.25 )
Ammonia - (1.0)

Will definitely update on the progress as it proceeds along

 

[KISSfn]

Good Luck!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I never followed a prawn-fed fishless cycle. This should be interesting!

 

[Swizz]

Alrighty then! From a Galaxy not to far away.... The story so far, as follows.


31st May
Day 1 - Nitrites (0)
Ammonia - (0.25)
/////////////////////
2nd June
Day 3 - Nitrites (0.25 )
Ammonia - (1.0)
/////////////////////
5th June
Day 6 - Nitrites (0.25 )
Ammonia - (4.0)
Nitrate - (5.0)
PH - (7.4)

More tests to come through-out the week....

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well your ammonia levels are rising nicely... and you are showing some nitrites. I guess you can just sit back and test, nothing more needs to be added. I guess when they both hit and remain at zero for a week, you are done!!!

Out of curiosity, what was your nitrates at the beginning?

 

[Swizz]

Yes, only a few short weeks to go..I don't mind to wait at all. As long as everything is precise, and the fish are happy. That'll be good enough for me

From the 31st of May through out to the 2nd of June the Nitrates stood as 0ppm

As for today. They have raised to 5ppm

-Edited-

To add..

In the mean time..I am still on the look out for a little Volcanic Rock. I don't think I will be keeping real plants, if anything they will be fake.

 

[Swizz]

Update pic of the tank.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

With a tank like that (very similar to mine - tall, but not long), I would stick to stocking the different levels very carefully, and stick to smaller species, so that you can have more, while still giving them as much swimming space as they can have.

Look for top, mid and bottom swimmers.

 

[Swizz]

Undoubtedly, Yes. I still have a little bit to go, where the Cycling is concerned..So it gives me a small space of time to chew over, it's not like if I am rushing into anything. But! I am pondering over Koi Angels with a small shoal of rummy nose tetra along with 5/6 albino Cory catfish.

Then again lol I have been considering a Cichlid tank. Whether they are, Mbuna. from Lake Malawi/ Lake Tanganyika. American Cichlids..there are so many varieties out there from all shapes and sizes, and not forgetting, the colors. All so very tempting..for example I came across an adult Frontosa, yesterday, far to large for my tank..but what an awesome example of a Cichlid that is I know of a good few Fish stores, around..and I have traveled as far as Sheffield for fish, from Liverpool. And I can't say this for anybody else, regarding their LFS. But for each and all, that is starting out in this Fishy world of ours..that is all up in arms and ready to buy fish, blinded by excitement. I haven't seen one tank that has descirbed their size, the minim tank that they should be in, etc etc. I know this takes space and money..but possibly there could be a leaflet, exemplifying their new home based, habitat. AH! Let's be thankful for Forums

Btw..I've changed the blue gravel to Silica sand..I washed it throughly last night..I think I will give it the once over later this afternoon, just before I put it in

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I had success adding sand to my tank with water in the tank, and the filter running. I just poured it very slowly over the bottom as I wanted it. It clouded up a might, but was gone in less than 12 hours.



I would add that cichlids might not work for your tank (at least not in large numbers). If I am correct in my thinking (chances are I'm not), cichlids prefer to hang towards the bottom of the tank, so you don't have that much space for cichlids.

 

[Swizz]

Slowly as she goes, and we are on too day 9.

8th June
Day 9 - Nitrites (0.50 )
Ammonia - (8.0)
Nitrate - (5.0)
PH - (7.4)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The ammonia levels are really starting to jump up, eh?

 

[Swizz]

It sure, has. Neil Armstrong would of been proud with that leap lol
Seriously though..I have been continuously changing the prawns on every Third to Four day.
Only a few more steps, I mean weeks to go, now

 

[waterdrop]

You will want to change some water when your ammonia level threatens to get up near the 8 level, it promotes the wrong species of bacteria. 5 or 6ppm should be fine so you probably wouldn't have to change much water at all to acheive that. WD

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I was thinking that, but I wasn't sure. (How have you been?)