Doogz Fishless Cycle

[Doogz]

Hello all,

New to both the forum and fish keeping. First off can I just say what a valuable resource this place has been in the short time I've been here

Ok started off originally by acquiring a Tropiquarium 88 second hand with an old fluval 4 (dried out) an unknown heater and a stand. The tank was pretty battered, scratched and in need of some work. Straight away we got a different stand.

Got the tank setup, put some nice black gravel in and added water the dechlor. Then - We went fish shopping and came home with 10 neon tetras - yes, mistake number one.

After adding our new pets I joined up here. Soon learned that we had a lot to learn and was making huge mistakes already! We toyed with doing a fish-in cycle with lots of water changes, bought new stuff for the tank but then the tank started to leak. The neons went to a new home in a friends tank.

So we started again. Nice new Roma 200 to replace the battered tank. This time we're doing it the proper way!

So now running with 2 Fluval U4s (had already bought one, got the other free with the new tank). Nice new heater. Using the same gravel and rocks etc.

So the cycle begins...

 

[Miles_hot]

Well done nice looking tank and a good attitude I'd suggest covering the tank to keep growths down (less work)

 

[L_Plates]

I love the layout you have gone with. A few plants later down the line and this will be a great tank.

Make sure to keep logging your daily test results on here.

All the best
LP

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Be sure to keep the light on the tank off while cycling (obviously you wanted to have it on for the picture).


Update your water parameters here when you get a chance, and folks will help you along the way.

 

[Doogz]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys!

Already 5 days into the cycle, using household ammonia. Will post the results when I get home, though not much movement as of yet.

I'm already looking at changing from gravel to sand, or a bit of both but need to build up the courage to go for it. The current gravel looks to be growing some sort of fungus/algae in several areas. Like threads of cotton flowing in the current, I'll have to post a pic later to see what you guys think it is. I'm only turning the lights on for minutes per day, which is a shame really!.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Light + Ammonia = Algae. It is a simple equation really. Don't turn the lights on, and the algae will die.

 

[Doogz]

Light + Ammonia = Algae. It is a simple equation really. Don't turn the lights on, and the algae will die.

That's what makes me think it's a fungus. Tank lights are on at the most for 5 minutes a day, just to do water tests etc. Think it may have came from the old tank, really not sure. So, I attempted to use my gravel cleaner to remove the mystery fluff, failed, the stuff got in the current and filled the tank!

I've now removed all the gravel, rocks etc, have done a 90% water change and dechlored again, will probably mess up the cycle but for the sake of 4 days it's worth it I think.

Reserved some Argos play sand, gonna be a fun day tomorrow!

As for water parameters:

Day 1 - dosed 5ppm household ammonia
Day 2 - 4ppm Ammonia, PH 7.4
Day 3 - No change
Day 4 - 3.5ppm Ammonia, hard to tell exactly but slightly lighter than previous test
Day 5 - 90% water change, re-dosed Ammonia to 4ppm

Wait and see if changes to tank have messed up the cycle!

ETA: Here's a pic of the fungus:

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

Light + Ammonia = Algae. It is a simple equation really. Don't turn the lights on, and the algae will die.

That's what makes me think it's a fungus. Tank lights are on at the most for 5 minutes a day, just to do water tests etc. Think it may have came from the old tank, really not sure. So, I attempted to use my gravel cleaner to remove the mystery fluff, failed, the stuff got in the current and filled the tank!

I've now removed all the gravel, rocks etc, have done a 90% water change and dechlored again, will probably mess up the cycle but for the sake of 4 days it's worth it I think.

Reserved some Argos play sand, gonna be a fun day tomorrow!

As for water parameters:

Day 1 - dosed 5ppm household ammonia
Day 2 - 4ppm Ammonia, PH 7.4
Day 3 - No change
Day 4 - 3.5ppm Ammonia, hard to tell exactly but slightly lighter than previous test
Day 5 - 90% water change, re-dosed Ammonia to 4ppm

Wait and see if changes to tank have messed up the cycle!

ETA: Here's a pic of the fungus:

I had the same thing in my 10g tank. Mine went away. I didn't have as much in my tank as I see you have. I kinda sucked it up with the gravel vacuum and got the couple of big clumps I saw out. I used to also notice a very slick film on all my rocks and stuff that was very slimy. I could barely pick up a rock out of the tank or even move it around the stuff was so slick. I think it was related to the clear growths. I'm almost 2 weeks into my cycle now and it has gone away. The rocks feel like rocks now and aren't slick anymore so your's may just go away too. Maybe the high ammonia levels kill it as well. Don't really know.

 

[Doogz]

I had the same thing in my 10g tank. Mine went away. I didn't have as much in my tank as I see you have. I kinda sucked it up with the gravel vacuum and got the couple of big clumps I saw out. I used to also notice a very slick film on all my rocks and stuff that was very slimy. I could barely pick up a rock out of the tank or even move it around the stuff was so slick. I think it was related to the clear growths. I'm almost 2 weeks into my cycle now and it has gone away. The rocks feel like rocks now and aren't slick anymore so your's may just go away too. Maybe the high ammonia levels kill it as well. Don't really know.

It got worse than that! In some parts the strands were close to an inch long!

Well it took me a few hours but the sand is in. Cleaning wasn't as bad as I imagined though there was a lot of debris as well, bits of wood and stones etc.

Much happier now...

Ammonia back at 4ppm also.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The tank looks great, add some plants at the end of the cycle and you have an award winning tank!

Good stuff.

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

Your tank does look awesome. It'll look very nice with some plants. Great job!

 

[Doogz]

Again, thanks for the comments!

Not much point in logging at the moment. As I suspected the water change has pretty much restarted my cycle, just glad it was only a few days worth. So ammonia is still stuck around 3-4ppm.

Seriously impressed with the way the current from the filters has shaped the sand, though at this rate I'll have no sand left on one side of the tank if I dont adjust the flow!

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

The water change shouldn't have done much at all to the cycle. It's your foam media, ceramic and other porous surfaces that house the bacteria. The don't live suspended in the water column from what I've read. Just be patient, it takes time from what I've learned. I thought I was getting close to being done with my cycle a week ago and I've learned that the nitrifying bacteria take a good while to mature. My ammonia gets converted to nitrite in about 6 hours or less, but it still takes about 36 hours to convert my nitrites to nitrates. It'll all be worth it in the end though. We'll have a strong bacterial colony capable of handling a fully stocked tank in a shorter period of time. I'm hoping I won't be but about a week longer or so, but it can take upwards of 6 weeks sometimes I hear. Good luck!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

John, it can take as long as 10+ weeks! There are a LOT of variables! 6 is the average.

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

Man! 10 weeks?!? That's a LONG time to wait. I really don't know if I can wait that long, but I don't think I'll have to. I think I got a good enough bacteria culture with that filter floss I got and I think my water quality and all variables are pretty good to move it along at the average or sooner. Anyways, this is Doogz thread so I'll shut my mouth now. Hopefully his moves along much faster than 10 weeks too.