Fishless Cycle - Add & Wait (Take 2)

[Little_Nemo]

As some of you already know I started a cycle around the beginning of Feb (2nd). And after 10 days or so there was no drop in ammonia, and nitrite being produced. Being the impatient one I decided to start from scratch. Empty the tank, wash the gravel etc etc... I even went out and bought myself a new filter as I wasnt happy with the one that was supplied with the tank!!

Soo... here goes

I have a Marina Style 35 tank, 50(L)X 25(W) X 30(H) with an Interpet PF1 filter (removed the Carbon Foam). The tank temp is currently sat at 29'C using an Interpet Heater. I have gravel substrate, and 2 ornaments currently occupying the tank. The type of test kit I use is the API Master Test Kit The type and strength of Ammonia is Household 9.5% from Boots (White bottle/Red Cap) Mature media was added in the form of a (Juwel) Poly pad 10 x 4.5cm

CYCLE STARTED SAT 12TH FEB - DAY ONE!

TAP WATER Results as follows:

Ammonia 0PPM
Nitrite 0PPM
Nitrate 10PPM
Ph 7.2/7.6
High Range Ph 8.2

I did 2 tests on my tank water once i had refilled. Test 1 was purly because I had previously had tried a cycle so needed to check if any Ammonia remained. Test 2 was because we added Stress Coat, and then Ammonia, and was curious to see if Stress Coat made any changes to the tank?!

TEST 1 Results were:

Ammonia 0.25PPM (POSSIBLE AMMONIA LEFT IN STONES)
Nitrite 0PPM
Nitrate 10PPM
Ph 7.2/7.6

TEST 2 Results were:

Ammonia 4.0PPM (DOSED UPTO 4PPM WITH THE ALREADY 0.25PPM IN MIND)
Nitrite 0PPM
Nitrate 10PPM
Ph 7.2/7.6

13TH FEB - DAY 2 AMMONIA 4PPM
14TH FEB - DAY 3 " " 2PPM
15TH FEB - DAY 4 " " 2PPM
16TH FEB - DAY 5 " " 2PPM
17TH FEB - DAY 6 NOT TESTED
18TH FEB - DAY 7 " " 2PPM (LIGHTER THAN 16TH FEB)
19TH FEB - DAY 8 " " 2PPM (1ML OF AMMONIA FOR CURIOSITY - COULDNT SEEM TO DROP BELOW 2PPM )
20TH FEB - DAY 9 " " 2PPM
21ST FEB - DAY 10 " " 2PPM
22ND FEB - DAY 11 AMMONIA 2PPM NITRITE 1PPM
23RD FEB - DAY 12 AMMONIA 1PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 10PPM+ (NOT QUITE 10 NOT QUITE 20)
24TH FEB - DAY 13 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 10PPM+ (NOT QUITE 10 NOT QUITE 20)(REDOSED)
25TH FEB - DAY 14 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 20PPM
26TH FEB - DAY 15 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM NITRATE 20PPM (REDOSED)
27TH FEB - DAY 16 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 20PPM+
28TH FEB - DAY 17 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 20PPM+ pH 7.6 (REDOSED)
1ST MARCH - DAY 18 AMMONIA 1PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 20PPM+ (NITRATE RETEST - USER ERROR, DEFINATELY 20PPM+)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 1PPM NITRATE 20PPM+ (REDOSED)
2ND MARCH - DAY 19 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 0.50PPM NITRATE 40PPM
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 1PPM NITRATE 40PPM (REDOSED)
3RD MARCH - DAY 20 AMMONIA 0.25PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (MUMS 2ND OPINION)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
4TH MARCH - DAY 21 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (NITRITE QUITE LIGHT BUT IT DOESNT MATCH 0.50PPM)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
5TH MARCH - DAY 22 AMMONIA 0.25PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 80PPM
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
6TH MARCH - DAY 23 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.50PPM> NITRATE 80PPM (NO2 reducing slightly)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
7TH MARCH - DAY 24 AMMONIA 0.25PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
8TH MARCH - DAY 25 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.50PPM NITRATE 80PPM
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
9TH MARCH - DAY 26 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
10TH MARCH - DAY 27 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM< NITRATE (NOT TESTED)(NITRITE LESS THAN 0.25, NOT QUITE O)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
11TH MARCH - DAY 28 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED) (REDOSED)
12TH MARCH - DAY 29 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.50PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED) (REDOSED)
13TH MARCH - DAY 30 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.50PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM> (REDOSED)
14TH MARCH - DAY 31 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
15TH MARCH - DAY 32 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.50PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
16TH MARCH - DAY 33 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
17TH MARCH - DAY 34 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
18TH MARCH - DAY 35 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE 80PPM (REDOSED)
19TH MARCH - DAY 36 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
NOT TESTED
20TH MARCH - DAY 37 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)
Retest at 22.00 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED) (REDOSED)
21ST MARCH - DAY 38 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0PPM NITRATE (NOT TESTED)

 

[Gvilleguy]

Yours is not the first time I have seen ammonia kind of 'stall' at 2 ppm. As long as your pH has not dropped to the 6.0 range, you should still be okay. Also good to see nitrites go up a little. Let it ride and see how it goes. Good log, too.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Dont add any more ammonia. Allow a bit more time for the ammonia to get to 0ppm.
Test initially at 24hr intervals and dose only when it gets to 0ppm. I read somewhere that it helps to establish a stronger colony (dont know if its true but makes some sense).

 

[Little_Nemo]

Yours is not the first time I have seen ammonia kind of 'stall' at 2 ppm. As long as your pH has not dropped to the 6.0 range, you should still be okay. Also good to see nitrites go up a little. Let it ride and see how it goes. Good log, too.

It's not the first time it's stalled one me The first cycle i attempted did the same, I thought i did something wrong, and got so impatient and started again (where I am now) but im just trying to be patient now pH currently sits at 7.2/7.6 cu

Dont add any more ammonia. Allow a bit more time for the ammonia to get to 0ppm.
Test initially at 24hr intervals and dose only when it gets to 0ppm. I read somewhere that it helps to establish a stronger colony (dont know if its true but makes some sense).

Great minds think alike!

 

[Little_Nemo]

23RD FEB - DAY 12 AMMONIA 1PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 10PPM+ (NOT QUITE 10 NOT QUITE 20 - MIDDLE OF RANGE)

So in the space of 24hrs my nitrite has increased from 1PPM to 5PPM!!

 

[fishlove75]

Hello, I know it is hard but try to be patient. I have been using fishless cycling now for a while I have cycled a total of 4 tanks using this method. 2 went off with out a hitch, no problems at all, the other 2 the ammonia stalled at 2ppm it was torture but it will eventually go down. It is a battle of wills, just stick it out it will be worth it.

 

[Warehouse]

So in the space of 24hrs my nitrite has increased from 1PPM to 5PPM!!

That does seem to be the norm Nemo.

 

[Little_Nemo]

Gonna wait and see what the ammonia level is tomorrow then re-dose back upto 4PPM

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Hopefully ammonia will be 0ppm.

Again, lets hope your next dose drops quickly to 0ppm. If at that stage the nitrite is 5ppm, you can then lower the ammonia dosing to 2-3ppm if it is 0ppm at the 24hr mark as you will in the second stage.

 

[Skins]

Looking good L Nemo

Keith.

 

[Little_Nemo]

Hopefully ammonia will be 0ppm.

Again, lets hope your next dose drops quickly to 0ppm. If at that stage the nitrite is 5ppm, you can then lower the ammonia dosing to 2-3ppm if it is 0ppm at the 24hr mark as you will in the second stage.

Ammonia is certainly a lovely yellow colour !!?! Never seen it soo pretty haha!

Looking good L Nemo

Keith.

Thanks skins! Really chuffed with it now

 

[Aqua Tom]

Looking very healthy

 

[Little_Nemo]

Looking very healthy

Goodo!

 

[Little_Nemo]

24TH FEB - DAY 13 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 10PPM+ (NOT QUITE 10 NOT QUITE 20 - MIDDLE OF RANGE)
25TH FEB - DAY 14 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 20PPM
26TH FEB - DAY 15 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM NITRATE 20PPM
27RD FEB - DAY 16 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 40PPM

 

[Skins]

24TH FEB - DAY 13 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 10PPM+ (NOT QUITE 10 NOT QUITE 20 - MIDDLE OF RANGE)
25TH FEB - DAY 14 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 5PPM NITRATE 20PPM
26TH FEB - DAY 15 AMMONIA 0PPM NITRITE 0.25PPM NITRATE 20PPM
27RD FEB - DAY 16 AMMONIA 0.50PPM NITRITE 1.0PPM NITRATE 40PPM

Looking very positive L Nemo

Keith.