Fish In Cycling Log

[Ryandsimmons]

That is encouraging Ryandsimmons. Now we just need to see the ammonia and nitrites hang there with no water changes. Your nitrate build is a bit disturbing. There is something contributing more nitrogen to the tank's water than we normally see in a tank with fish.

I've cut down the food and stripped the plants of anything that looks brown so hopefully that will help.

Still got the scum on top of the water though, I need to buy some tissues tomorrow to try to remove that.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Day 11: pH 8, Ammonia 0, maybe 0.25? Looks like a hint there. Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20ish.

 

[waterdrop]

Looking good. Average length of these fish-in cycles would put you maybe a third or fourth the way through, but each case is different.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

I think I remember this one being a partial clone WD. It actually could be nearing the end that fast if it is.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

I think I remember this one being a partial clone WD. It actually could be nearing the end that fast if it is.

Aye, I have mature filter media in my fliter along with the original. (In fact the mature media is 3x what the media that actually comes with the filter is.)

 

[waterdrop]

Ah! Excellent. It could indeed be faster then. WD

 

[onebto]

Sounds like things are coming along nicely

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Day 12: pH 8, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20

No water change since day 9.

 

[waterdrop]

Day 12: pH 8, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20

No water change since day 9.

Is that your 24 hour test or your 12 hour test?

 

[OldMan47]

Fish-in WD. That is day 3 withoput a water change and is indeed an encouraging result.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, that is good! technically cycled then but a week will be good insurance.. WD

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Day 14: (didn't get a chance on day 13, got stuck at work)

pH: 8, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nirate 20

In the chemistry it looks great, however... The scum on the surface of the water looked awful today! And I am quite worried as I found a snail at the surface level of the water. From what I read that is a bad thing. Normally I only see them if I enter the room at night when all the lights are off.

As a precaution I did a 30% change in case the water was not getting oxygenated enough due to the scum, and I used 20 pieces of kitchen roll, just draped a paper on the surface and threw it, repeated that until the surface looked clear. I also removed 50% of the media in my filter. This takes it to double "factory setting" rather than having 4 times the standard media. I think the scum may be due to the filter being overfilled with far to much media, so the reduced level should hopefully clear this.

On the bright side the fish all look great, I haven't lost any in this cycle, including one with a nasty wound with a missing gill that I was told would be unlikely to survive even in a normal tank and would almost certainly die in a new tank. It has been hard work though, but very rewarding so far.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Day 17:
pH 7.8, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20

 

[OldMan47]

The snails are capable of eating the scum off the water surface. It is quite amazing sometimes to watch a large mystery snail feeding at the water's surface by just floating along.