Dodders' Fishless Cycle

[Dodders]

Started a fishless cycle on my new Tanganyikan tank tonight and thought it might be useful to log it here. I'm experimenting with Tetra SafeStart for the first time, obviously I've no 'control' tank but hopefully it'll be apparent if it shortens the cycle significantly. Water pH 8.2, KH 13dH, GH 17dH and interesting to note nearly 0.5ppm NH3 from the tap...

Tank details: 48x12x15 inches, 100 litres after displacement. Eheim 2213 with coarse sponge prefilter and venturi/diffuser outlet thingy, Sera 200W heater. Ammonia - Boots, 9.5%.

Dosed with 2.5ml ammonia for a total of 3ppm. (Low ammonia dose to avoid poisoning the 85ml SafeStart added 2 hours later.)
Therefore starting figures of:
28.02.2011, NH3 3ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 5-10ppm.
01.03.2011, NH3 2ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 10ppm. Well I never, SafeStart obviously does something!
02.03.2011, NH3 1.5-2ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 10-15ppm.
03.03.2011, NH3 1.5ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 15ppm.
04.03.2011, NH3 1.5ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 15-20ppm. Redosed NH3 up to 3ppm.
05.03.2011, NH3 3ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 15-20ppm
06.03.2011, NH3 2ppm, NO2 0.25ppm, NO3 20ppm
07.03.2011, NH3 1ppm, NO2 1.5ppm, NO3 40ppm
08.03.2011, NH3 0ppm, NO2 1.5ppm, NO3 40ppm. Redosed NH3 to 3ppm.
09.03.2011, NH3 <0.25ppm, NO2 ~2.0ppm, NO3 >40ppm. Redosed NH3 to 3ppm.
10.03.2011, NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2.0ppm, NO3 - not tested. Redosed NH3 to 3ppm.
11.03.2011, NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2.0ppm, NO3 - not tested. Redosed NH3 to 3ppm.
12.03.2011, NH3 0ppm, NO2 0.5ppm, NO3 - not tested. Redosed NH3 to 4ppm.
13.03.2011, NH3 0ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 - not tested. Redosed NH3 to 4ppm.

14.03.2011 (8am) NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1.5ppm, NO3 - not tested.
14.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 - not tested.
15.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
15.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 2ppm, NO3 - not tested.
16.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
16.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 2ppm, NO3 - not tested. PH 7.8
17.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm. Tested NO2 ~1.5ppm out of interest, wonder why it's not cleared after 24hrs?.
17.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 2ppm, NO3 - not tested.
18.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
18.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 2ppm, NO3 - not tested.
19.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm. Tested NO2 ~2ppm.
19.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0.5ppm, NO2 2ppm. NO3 - not tested. PH 7.6. I think a waterchange may be in order tomorrow...
20.03.2011 (8am) Went out in a hurry and forgot to deal with the tank! B****r...
20.03.2011 (4pm) Changed 50% of water. Dosed NH3 to 2ppm as an interim measure.
21.03.2011 (11am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
21.03.2011 (11pm), NH3 0.5ppm, NO2 2ppm. NO3 - not tested.
22.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
22.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 <0.25ppm, NO2 2ppm. NO3 - not tested. PH 8.0.
23.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4ppm. NO2 0ppm.
23.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm. NO3 - not tested.
24.03.2011 (8am) Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
24.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm. NO3 - not tested. BORED NOW, GO AWAY NITRITE!
25.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4ppm. NO2 0ppm.
25.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm. NO3 - not tested. Grrr...
26.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4ppm. NO2 0ppm.
26.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm. NO3 - not tested. Grrr again...
27.03.2011 (11am), Dosed NH3 to 4ppm. NO2 0ppm.
27.03.2011 (11pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm. NO3 - not tested.
28.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to ~4ppm.
28.03.2011 (8:30pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0.25ppm, NO3 - not tested. Low nitrite due to error in morning ammonia dose...
29.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
29.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm, NO3 >80ppm. Changed ~75% water.
30.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4ppm.
30.03.2011 (8pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested. Could it be that the nitrite has started to drop?!
31.03.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
31.03.2011 (11:30pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 untested. I would have cheered, except for the late test skewing the result!
01.04.2011 (8am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
01.04.2011 (midnight), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 untested. Thought I was going to get a 12hr reading tonight but thanks to the car breaking down on the way home from work...
02.04.2011 (10am), Dosed NH3 to 5ppm.
02.04.2011 (10pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm, NO3 untested.
03.04.2011 (11am), Dosed NH3 to 5ppm.
03.04.2011 (11pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm, NO3 untested.
04.04.2011 (11am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
04.04.2011 (11pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm, NO3 untested. Humph.
05.04.2011 (7:30am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
05.04.2011 (7:30pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~2ppm, NO3 untested. Humph again.
06.04.2011 (8:30am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
06.04.2011 (8:30pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1ppm, NO3 untested.
07.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
07.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1ppm, NO3 untested.
06.04.2011 (8:30am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
06.04.2011 (8:30pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1ppm, NO3 untested.
07.04.2011 (9:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
07.04.2011 (9:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1ppm, NO3 untested.
08.04.2011 (10:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
08.04.2011 (10:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1ppm, NO3 untested.
09.04.2011 (10:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
09.04.2011 (10:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1ppm, NO3 untested.
10.04.2011 (10:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
10.04.2011 (10:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 ~1.5ppm, NO3 untested. Changed media into more powerful filter.
11.04.2011 (10:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
11.04.2011 (10:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0.25ppm, NO3 untested.
12.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
12.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0.50ppm, NO3 untested.
13.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
13.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested. 50% water change.
14.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
14.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 3ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested. Disaster - forgot to turn heater on after last night's water change and it didn't like it one bit!
15.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
15.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0.25ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested.
16.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
16.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0.25ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested. Getting seriously disheartened now...
17.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
17.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0.25ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested.
18.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
18.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0.25ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested.
19.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
19.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 1ppm, NO3 untested.
Haven't logged as nothing changed until...
24.04.2011 (10:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
24.04.2011 (10:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0.25ppm, NO3 untested.
25.04.2011 (10:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
25.04.2011 (10:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0.25ppm, NO3 untested.
26.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
26.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 <0.25ppm, NO3 untested.
27.04.2011 (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm.
27.04.2011 (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 <0.25ppm, NO3 untested.
Some point in the last couple of weeks: NH3 0ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 untested.
Every day since: (8:00am), Dosed NH3 to 4.5ppm. (8:00pm), NH3 0ppm, NO2 0ppm.
As far as I'm concerned, it's finished!

 

[Gvilleguy]

Looks good, Dodders. You've done your research!

 

[Skins]

Looks good, Dodders. You've done your research!

+1

 

[Dodders]

Thanks chaps, trying my best!

 

[KittyKat]

01.03.2011, NH3 2ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 10ppm. Well I never, SafeStart obviously does something!

Er, I wonder why it hasn't been converted to readable level of nitrite yet.. I would really like to know exactly what it is that it does!

 

[Dodders]

01.03.2011, NH3 2ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 10ppm. Well I never, SafeStart obviously does something!

Er, I wonder why it hasn't been converted to readable level of nitrite yet.. I would really like to know exactly what it is that it does!

Granted, it's a bit of a head scratcher. This is what I think - the stuff supposedly contains the bacteria for breaking down both ammonia and nitrite. Perhaps whatever they do to the bacteria to give it a shelf life doesn't slow down the nitrite-killing bacteria as much as it does the ammonia-killing bacteria, so whilst the ammonia is slower to clear the nitrite is being cleared straight away. That's pure guesswork, but its the best I can come up with! I have seen one or two other logs that have gone down a similar route who have experienced the same thing so I'm not too worried at the moment, but that could change...

 

[KittyKat]

That could be it, we have had a number of cases here where a fish-less cycle never had a nitrite spike after the addition of the bottled cycle aids.

 

[Dodders]

Well the appearance of nitrite over the last 24hrs sort of blows that theory away doesn't it?

 

[KittyKat]

For your specific case, at least! The cycle aid definitely seems to be doing something.. it is uncommon to see ammonia drop before day 10, let alone already have nitrite!

 

[Skins]

For your specific case, at least! The cycle aid definitely seems to be doing something.. it is uncommon to see ammonia drop before day 10, let alone already have nitrite!

Just a thought KK, could this cycle aid additive be presenting the cycler with false nitrIte test results?

Keith.

 

[KittyKat]

For your specific case, at least! The cycle aid definitely seems to be doing something.. it is uncommon to see ammonia drop before day 10, let alone already have nitrite!

Just a thought KK, could this cycle aid additive be presenting the cycler with false nitrIte test results?

Yes, of course. I was thinking that if it was giving a false nitrite reading, it would have had to happen almost immediately after the aid was added (which was over a week ago now) and also the nitrite is corresponding to the ammonia drop now.

The cycle aid is the main reason I am finding this cycle well worth following!

 

[Dodders]

If it's relevant to your thinking, bear in mind that it's sold as a cycle 'solution' rather than an aid - I merely used it to try and speed things along a bit. It was added on day 1, not on an ongoing basis so if it were a false nitrite reading I would imagine it would have shown from day 1. If you're meaning the initial 0s may have been a false reading I imagine it's a possibility, although there appeared to be a definite rise in nitrAtes (hope I'm understanding your thoughts correctly!).

It looks to me as though it possibly did work as advertised, but is just nowhere near powerful enough for the sort of ammonia levels we're chucking at it by cycling in this way. With a more substantial ammonia load being processed now, I'm thinking that the nitrite processing that was (maybe) already occurring is just failing to keep up. It appears to have processed limited amounts of ammonia and nitrite from day 1 - that's IF the test results are reasonably accurate.

It's interesting if nothing else. Just wish I had the knowledge to do this scientifically instead of a series of semi-educated guesses!

Thanks for your input!

Bruce

EDIT: Sorry, Kitty Kat you beat me to it

 

[Dodders]

Got the odd zero creeping in here and there - very pleased!

 

[Dodders]

First double zero!

 

[Warehouse]

First 24 hour double zero in just 14 days? Thats bl**dy amazing! Great job, maybe you've hit onto something there?