Fast Fish Cycle?

[blackers92]

Hello

this is my fish in cycle


Day 1- No ammonia
Day 2- Ammonia 0.50 (with prawn)
Day 3- Ammonia 0.25 (removed prawn smelt to bad lol added 4 zebra danio)
Day 4- Ammonia hit 1.0 80% water change
Day 5- Ammonia .50 50% change
Day 6- Ammonia .50 50% change
Day 7- Ammonia .50 50% change
Day 8- Ammonia .25 50% change
Day 9- Ammonia .25 (water was unusually warm)
Day 10- Ammonia .50 50% change
Day 11 Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25 50% change
Day 12 Ammonia 0.50, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 5.0 50% change
Day 13 Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 0, pH 7.4
Day 14 Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 5.0
Day 15 Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 5.0
Day 16 Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 (pH 6 )
Day 17 Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 (pH 6)

( From here on I have been testing twice a day unless noted)

Day 18
12.00 am
Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 0, Nitrate 1-5ppm (Using API Kit, it is not yellow but not at 5ppm Orange colour) pH 7.6
8.00 pm
Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 0, Nitrate 1-5ppm (same reading as before) pH 7.6, High pH 7.4

Day 19
12.00 am
Ammonia, 0, Nitrite,0 Nitrate 1-5ppm (same strange colour again) pH 6.0
DID A WATER CHANGE TO HELP INCREASE pH
5.00 pm
Ammonia 0, Nitrite, 0, Nitrate 0, pH 6.4

Day 20, Ammonia, 0 Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 pH-7

Day 21
12am
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 pH 6.4
5pm
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 pH 6.6

Day 22
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 pH 6.4

 

[cybergibbons]

I don't think that is particularly fast - I saw nitrites on day 6, and I've seen other reports with it being faster.

 

[waterdrop]

I forget, do you have another thread where you are posting your test results? The reason you see most beginners with a thread titled "so and so's fishless cycle on x volume tank" with the first post filled with one liners for each set of test results (either daily or morning/evening depending on where you are in the cycle process) is that that's what provides the members with enough data to be able to look at it and say how they think you're doing. The data of one day, even if you know its day 12 and that its good that nitrite is coming on that early (which is true) are just not enough data to really pass much judgement on.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[blackers92]

i edited in all of my results hopefully you will be able to make a better judgement.

 

[waterdrop]

I don't understand why you are limiting your gravel-clean-water-changes to 50%? That percentage is clearly not getting you down to a safe level for the fish. Is it not possible to increase it to a 75% change? Ammonia and/or nitrite(NO2) toxicity are orders of magnitude more stressful to fish than water changes that are reasonably done using conditioner and rough temperature matching. (apologies if I'm forgetting some other special problem as I -do- remember you are in Aus and couldn't find ammonia but tried etc.)

Remember, your number one job in a fish-in cycling situation is experimentally be figuring out what percentage and frequency of water changes will rotate you between Zero ppm ammonia/nitrite and 0.25ppm MAX before you can be home again to perform another test and water change and start the rotation over again.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[blackers92]

I think my cycle may have stalled as it has been,
Day 16 Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 (pH 6)
Day 17 Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 (pH 6)

for the past 2 days, also the pH is at 6, would this being slowing down the cycle?
I have removed one plant as it kept floating to the top i doubt this would have a massive impact on the tank.

 

[drobbyb]

Yes, a pH of 6 will slow down your cycle. Getting your pH back up will resume your cycle. If you have fish, you can raise it by doing waterchanges, an hour apart from each other.

 

[blackers92]

do you know what could of made it drop?

 

[waterdrop]

Its normal for the process of cycling itself to cause the pH to drop. As Robby said, you're just ready for a good gravel-clean-water-change or two and your pH will be back up there where its been before. At this point I'd probably test morning and evening and add pH as part of the set of tests.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[blackers92]

sounds good, i will keep you informed thanks for all the help

 

[tom130691]

im on day 9ish i have .25 ammonia and 1.0 nitrite
for the last 2 days
im doing fish in aswell currently doing 70-80% changes everyday

 

[blackers92]

to tom130691, its good to know im not the only person who is doing a fish in cycle, the water changes are a pain though, iv literally been doing them every day 140 litre tank is pretty for 50-80% changes lol. what fish are you using?

 

[blackers92]

I am barely getting any results. Is this normal?

any advice would be appreciated

 

[waterdrop]

You're fine. That's quite common, not to be able to see results clearly in a fish-in cycle. Because you have to keep the water safe for the fish that are in there being exposed, any water changes will take away the little bit of test feedback you were getting for a while.

Remember, the test of when a fish-in cycle is about over is when you can go two days without water changes and not see even a trace of ammonia or nitrite(NO2) showing up with your liquid tests. Of course its not good to let those 2 days be right after a massive water change, but instead be out there when things are nice and settled. After you do get a two day confirmation then its good to watch it stay at double zeros like that for a week.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[blackers92]

Waterdrop, i havent changed the water since Day 19, and havent had any ammonia or nitrite. But I am also having very little Nitrate. Should i leave this for a week? to see if the ammonia/nitrite levels stay the same? I am worried about the pH as it is very low but before adding new fish should i do a 80-90% change? that would boost the pH wouldnt it? There is also a dirty film on the water.