First Fishless Cycle - How's It Doing?

[ladymaverick]

Hi all,

Now that I've got the tank up and running with a little hiccup in the middle, I just want to check I'm on the right track.

I planted and filled on Wednesday 8th, and started running the Ex1200. Unfortunately, that evening we noticed it was leaking and had to switch it off.

It turns out it was needing new seals so, while I was waiting on them being delivered, I put the Eheim internal filter that came with the tank back in. This filter had not been in a tank for 3 days, being kept in a bin liner with the awful gravel that came with the tank and having been helpfully washed out "in the sink" by the previous owners. My main thinking in returning it to the tank was to maintain water circulation and temperature for the plants; I had no expectation of any bacteria having survived.

Anyway...seals arrived, were replaced and the Ex1200 up and running again by Friday afternoon. The Eheim was switched off but not removed from the tank until Sunday evening.

I started testing on Monday (API kit).

Tapwater as a baseline is pH 7.4, no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate.

Monday results: pH - 6.4, NH3 - 4ppm, NO2 - 3ppm, NO3 - 40ppm
Tuesday results: pH - 6.4, NH3 - between 2 and 3ppm, NO2 - 1ppm, NO3 - 80ppm

I have also noticed a white slime on my suckers but various threads indicate this is a healthy normal thing in a new tank so I'm not worrying.

Tank was being maintained at 25C but I have turned this up to 30C and adjusted outlet height to increase surface agitation, following advice in other threads, to aid the bacteria for the duration of the cycle.

So, what I'm looking for guidance on:

1. Cycle progress? I think the Eheim might have had some bacteria left and these have pushed things on. But now it's been out for 2 days (back in the bin liner!) Is it worth shifting what media I can into the Ex1200? Or will the Ex1200 have received enough of a boost to keep itself going?
2. Ammonia dosing - wait till levels get to 0 then dose but to what level?
3. I've only managed to get ammonia today but I've left decaying plant matter in as an NH3 source until now. Should I remove it or leave it, aesthetics aside?

Thanks in advance.

 

[slimeneo]

I personally have not done a fish less cycle, but I have done a fish-in cycle so I may be able to help you a bit.

1. Yes, it may go a little faster if you added whatever filter media was in the old filter, into the new one.
2. There is a link to a calculator on the top of the page, it will calculate how much ammonia to add.
3. I'm not so sure about this, but I would personally take it out. When you add more ammonia, you won't really need that decaying plant.