Fishless Cycle Diary-back From Hols :)

[LionessN3cubs]

Do I need to test at 24hrs if it was all 0ppm at 12 hrs?

I'd say that depends. If you test at 12 hours and its all 0's and you add ammonia right then...then yeah, another 12 hours would warrant another test ...but if you wait a full 24 hours to add ammonia then I wouldn't test...pointless to test right after an ammonia add unless you're checking on how much ammonia you did add.

 

[ellena]

Well, I'm testing @ 12hrs, but not topping up ammonia till 24hrs. Last night, I just topped up, then waited half hour, then tested.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

only top up once every 24 hrs, if you test at 12 hrs and you get 0,0 then you don't need to re-test at 24 hours. If you want to for peace of mind that your 12 hr reading was correct then by all means do but it's not essential.

 

[ellena]

Cool, thanks for that. I'll try and get ito a routine with it now.

Day 28 25hrs
added 1.3ml NH3 > 4ppm

Day 29 9.5hrs
NH3-0.25
NO2-1ppm

21.5hrs
NH3-0ppm
NO2-0ppm

added 1.3ml NH3 > 4ppm

 

[waterdrop]

Do I need to test at 24hrs if it was all 0ppm at 12 hrs?

I'd say that depends. If you test at 12 hours and its all 0's and you add ammonia right then...then yeah, another 12 hours would warrant another test ...but if you wait a full 24 hours to add ammonia then I wouldn't test...pointless to test right after an ammonia add unless you're checking on how much ammonia you did add.

Right, as MW says a couple posts down from this question (..so I'm repeating).. you wouldn't ever be adding at 12 hours. The technique of Add&Wait Fishless Cycling calls for you to always only add ammonia at the 24 hour mark, even if you got zeros at 12 hours. If you add ammonia only 12 hours later then you will be overloading on NO2 and NO3 and slowing down the cycle some.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ellena]

Yep, i'm only adding NH3 at 24hrs

Day 30 12hrs
NH3-0.25/0.5
NO2-0/0.25
Very nearly!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, you're getting quite a lot of ammonia and nitrite processed pretty quickly now!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ellena]

Day 30 24hrs
added 1.3ml NH3 > 5ppm

Day 31 12 hrs
NH3-2ppm ?
NO2-just over 0ppm

23hrs
NH3-still 2ppm
NO2-0ppm
NO3-5ppm

Time to check pH I think!
pH-6
A big fat crash! But, I know how to deal with this thanks to you guys, so-
50% water change
NH3-2ppm (? whatever!)
pH-7
added 1ml NH3 > 4ppm

Day 32 12hrs
NH3-0.25ppm
NO2-0.75ppm
pH-7

 

[waterdrop]

Sounds good Ellena!

Just for future reference, when you're fishless cycling there's not much meaning to doing "percentage" water changes unless you have a logistic reason. Holding the change to some percentage is all about protecting the fish from some perceived shock and of course.. you have not fish! So, my own practical limit used to be lowering the water just until it would have made the cannister filter intake lose its siphon (I nearly always leave my cannister filter running during water changes, just out of laziness, and I kind of like hearing the waterfall noise from the spraybar while I'm doing maintenance!) Anyway, usually you are trying to accomplish something with that fresh tap water and refreshing 90% of the water usually accomplishes more of it than 50%.. but I realize you may just have not wanted to take that much time of course.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ellena]

Thanks WD, I'll bear that in mind This time, I took out one bucketful and filled it up with fresh water without thinking. So I added that and as it brought the pH up to 7, I left it at that

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, have to admit I did a "bucket change" the other day too, feeling desparate after missing my weekend one and having little weekday time.

 

[ellena]

Day 32 25hrs
pH 7.7 added 1.3ml NH3 > 5ppm

Day 33 10hrs
NH3-0.25ppm
NO2-1ppm
pH-6.6
22hrs
NH3-0.5ppm
NO2-0ppm
pH-6.6
90% water change > pH 7.6
added 1.3ml NH3 > 5ppm and pH 8.4

Day 34 12hrs
NH3-0.25ppm
NO2-1ppm
pH-7.6
24hrs
NH3-0ppm
NO2-0ppm
pH-7.6
added 1.3ml NH3

Day 35 20.5hrs
NH3-0.5
NO2-0
pH-7.6

 

[waterdrop]

Certainly looking like progress there! -wd-

 

[ellena]

Day 35 25.5hrs
added 1.3ml NH3 > 4ppm

Day 36 9hrs
NH3-0.25ppm
NO2-5ppm (or is it 1? Those 2 are so close!)
pH-7.4

21hrs
NH3-0.25ppm (or it might be 0-the colours are sending my eyes a bit funny now!)
NO2-0ppm
pH-7.4
added 1.3ml > 4ppm

 

[ellena]

Day 37 12hrs
NH3-0.25ppm
NO2-1ppm
pH-7.4

Not seen ammonia at 0 since the pH crash. NO2 could be better too. Come on bacteria-I'd like fish when I get back from holiday!