Dipsys First Ever Fishless Cycle

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

First Proper Fish-Less Cycle

Tap Water
pH = 7.6
High pH = 7.4
Ammonia = 0.25 ppm
Nitrite = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 0 ppm

The colour for ammonia looked less than 0.25 ppm, however the colour wasn’t quite 0 ppm; so to be on the safe side I’m saying 0.25 ppm)

Test Kit = API Freshwater
Tank Size = 7.4 gallons.

Day 0

Temperature = 26 to 28 Celsius
Ammonia = between 4 ppm and 8 ppm.

I’ve got my heater set to 28 Celsius/82 Fahrenheit); it’ll take until today to heat up to 28 properly.

I aimed for 5ppm ammonia but of course my test kit only has 4 and 8 ppm marked down; the colour was slightly darker than 4 ppm but lighter than 8 ppm – if you looked in bright light it was 4 ppm; if you looked in normal light it was 8 ppm.

Day 1

Temperature = 26.something Celsius
Ammonia = Looked like it could quite possibly be 4ppm, but it was hard to tell (lighter green than yesterday anyway)

Day 2

Temperature = 26.something Celsius
Ammonia = I'm guessing approximately 4ppm.

I woke up this morning to a lovely cloudy tank, bacterial bloom here we come...

Day 3

Temperature = 26.5 celsius
Ammonia = approximately 4ppm

Day 4

Temperature = 26.7 celsius
Ammonia = approximately 4ppm

Day 5

Temperature = 26.5 celsius
Ammonia = about 4ppm

Day 6

Temperature = 26.3 celsius
Ammonia = 3ppm

Day 7

Temperature = 26.8 celsius
Ammonia = Possibly 3ppm
Nitrite = Maybe 2ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm

Day 8

Temperature = 26.7 celsius
Ammonia = 4ppm
Nitrite = Looks like both 2 and 5 ppm (colour difference hard to tell)

Day 9

Temperature = 25.5 celsius
Ammonia = 3ppm (ish)
Nitrite = looks like both 2 and 5ppm

Day 10

Temperature = 26.5 celsius
Ammonia = 4ppm
Nitrite = 2 to 5 ppm

Day 11

Temperature = 26.9 celsius
Ammonia = 4ppm
Nitrite = 2 to 5 ppm

Day 12

Temperature = 26.3 celsius
Ammonia = 2ppm
Nitrite = 5ppm

Day 13

Temperature = 26.7 celsius
Ammonia = 2ppm
Nitrite = 5ppm

Day 14

Temperature = 26.8 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = 5ppm

Day 15

Temperature = 25.2 celsius
Ammonia = 2ppm
Nitrite = 2-5ppm
Nitrate = possible trace

Day 16

Temperature = 26.4 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 17

Temperature = 26.9 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 18

Temperature = 26.9 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 19

Temperature = 26.6 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 20

Temperature = 26.5 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 21

Temperature = 26.6 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 22

Temperature = 25.4 celsius
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = between 2 and 5ppm maybe
Nitrate = 0ppm

Day 23

Temperature = 25.6
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 24

Temperature = 25.7
Ammonia = 1ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 25

Temperature = 25.4
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 26

Temperature = 25.5
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 27

Temperature = 25.5
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 28

Temperature = 25.6
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 29

Temperature = 26.9
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)
Turned the temperature up by 2 degrees Celsius

Day 30

Temperature = 28.1
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 31

Temperature = 28.4
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm

Day 32

Temperature = 28.6
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 33

Temperature = 28.2
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 34

Temperature = 28.0
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 35

Temperature = 28.0
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 36

Temperature = 29.4
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 37

Temperature = 29.9
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 38

Temperature = 29.9
Ammonia = 0.25ppm EXACTLY
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 39

Temperature = 28.9
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 40

Temperature = 29.6
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 41

Temperature = 29.6
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = (not measuring)

Day 42

Temperature =
Ammonia =
Nitrite =

Day 43

Temperature =
Ammonia =
Nitrite =

Day 44

Temperature =
Ammonia =
Nitrite =

Day 45

Temperature =
Ammonia =
Nitrite =

 

[JoshuaA]

I aimed for 5ppm ammonia but of course my test kit only has 4 and 8 ppm marked down; the colour was slightly darker than 4 ppm but lighter than 8 ppm – if you looked in bright light it was 4 ppm; if you looked in normal light it was 8 ppm.

Hey you started it!

I wouldn't worry about the ammonia as long as you used the calculator you will have got it to around 4/5. Just a little concerned you folks up north have ammonia in your water supply... It might explain a few things

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Yea I used the calculator to aim for 5ppm (I also had a dropper which measured down to 0.2ml so I got the measurement fairly accurate). Also following your recommendation I sniffed the ammonia lol - lovely.

It would appear we have some ammonia in the water, like I said not quite 0.25 ppm but for the sake of it I'll say it's that, as far as I am aware our water comes from Kielder Reservoir and then gets treated.

and yes I finally started it.

Oh and I got a big squeeze and left my filter sponge sitting in the water from my goldfish tank, for a while, so I might have gotten a head start, if not never mind.

 

[fish_tank0311]

Looking good so far. Just make sure your pH doesnt go too much higher, unless you wanted some cichlids in there of course.

 

[PDSimon]

Hi dipsy, thought you might be interested in reading this,

quote from oldman47:

The 0.25 ppm of ammonia is not high at all. I have tap water that always runs above 0.5 ppm ammonia. The reason is very simple. These days many water authorities are using chloramine in the water instead of chlorine. It lasts much longer in the pipes and does a better job of controlling bacteria that might otherwise make the water unsafe to drink. Why should that matter? Chloramine is basically a chlorine and ammonia compound. When your dechlorinator breaks the chemical bonds of chloramine, it neutralizes the chlorine and makes the ammonia component safer for the fish than simple ammonia would be. When I measure over 0.5 ppm of ammonia, I am aware that the chlorine in my water is not simply chlorine but is instead chloramine. It does make things a bit difficult if I decide to do a fish*-in cycle because the new tap water always contains too much ammonia to truly be safe for the fish. In a mature tank it is meaningless because my filter gets rid of every trace of ammonia inside of a couple of hours.

try and ensure you don't get 8 or more ppm of ammonia. It encourages different species of bacteria to develop.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Hi dipsy, thought you might be interested in reading this,

quote from oldman47:

The 0.25 ppm of ammonia is not high at all. I have tap water that always runs above 0.5 ppm ammonia. The reason is very simple. These days many water authorities are using chloramine in the water instead of chlorine. It lasts much longer in the pipes and does a better job of controlling bacteria that might otherwise make the water unsafe to drink. Why should that matter? Chloramine is basically a chlorine and ammonia compound. When your dechlorinator breaks the chemical bonds of chloramine, it neutralizes the chlorine and makes the ammonia component safer for the fish than simple ammonia would be. When I measure over 0.5 ppm of ammonia, I am aware that the chlorine in my water is not simply chlorine but is instead chloramine. It does make things a bit difficult if I decide to do a fish*-in cycle because the new tap water always contains too much ammonia to truly be safe for the fish. In a mature tank it is meaningless because my filter gets rid of every trace of ammonia inside of a couple of hours.

try and ensure you don't get 8 or more ppm of ammonia. It encourages different species of bacteria to develop.

Thats more reassuring now, thanks

Looking good so far. Just make sure your pH doesnt go too much higher, unless you wanted some cichlids in there of course.

I think I'm aiming for a betta.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Is my water temperature ok; the heater reads 28; I think the stick on thermometer at the back of the tank (one that sticks on the glass) reads about 28 and the one at the front of the tank (internal one) reads about 26.5?

 

[OldMan47]

Either 26 or 28 will be a fine place to get your cycle going. As long as it is at least room temperature, the bacteria will grow. If the water gets down near freezing, the biological activity will be so far reduced that it would be difficult to get a cycle established.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Either 26 or 28 will be a fine place to get your cycle going. As long as it is at least room temperature, the bacteria will grow. If the water gets down near freezing, the biological activity will be so far reduced that it would be difficult to get a cycle established.

Brilliant

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

My mam will be testing my tank water this Saturday and Sunday; I'm just wondering will it matter if she accidentally puts a few too many drops in the test sample (API Freshwater test kit)? I got her to do it yesterday for me so she knew what to do; but she's a but heavy handed on the squeezing the drops out. I'll do it tonight so if she messes up at least it'll only be 2 days worth of 'mis-readings'.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Once my ammonia drops to about 1ppm, I then add more ammonia and I can begin to measure nitrite?

 

[JoshuaA]

Once my ammonia drops to about 1ppm, I then add more ammonia and I can begin to measure nitrite?

Ooooh it's started processing

Wait till your Ammonia hits 0ppm and then re dose it won't take long for your ammonia to be processed in like 24 hours now. You can test for Nitrite but in my experience all you're going to get is 5ppm for a week or two. However you can also use the test for Nitrite to make sure your Ammonia test is being accurate. I noticed my Ammonia was reading 2ppm at times yet there was 0ppm of Nitrite meaning 2ppm of Ammonia went missing!

Just make sure if she puts too many in she starts again, you won't get an accurate reading then.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I'll check it tonight accurately and see what I think it is. I should be around for a while checking it.

Problem is my newts have laid eggs so I might need the tank for them and not a fish

 

[JoshuaA]

I'll check it tonight accurately and see what I think it is. I should be around for a while checking it.

Problem is my newts have laid eggs so I might need the tank for them and not a fish

AH OH, that's problematic.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

It is if they turn out to be fertile!