Fishless Cycle.........nothing Happening?

[Mo1959]

Hi,

I am now into my 11th day of fishless cycling and absolutely nothing has happened so far. Just wondered if this happens sometimes. Ammonia levels have stuck at 4ppm the whole time, no trace of nitrites, PH around 7.4 and temperature 29 degrees. Starting to get a bit frustrated. Don't mind looking at an empty tank if the cycle is showing signs of moving along but just to test each morning and find nothing has changed isn't a lot of fun.

I suppose I am really just looking for someone to come along and say the same happened to them and then it suddenly started moving. lol.


Maureen

 

[Shelby]

Somtimes it just takes awhile before you get that first drop in ammonia. 11 days is not uncommon. Sometimes it seems like it takes forever! If you know anyone with an aquarium, see if you can get a piece of their filter media.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hiya

It's fine yeah, I don't think mine had dropped at that stage either.

 

[LondonguyJ]

May I ask what size your tank is and what filter you have? Also if your filter is external what model you're using.

 

[Mo1959]

Hi Londonguy. It's the Fluval Roma 125 with the Fluval U3 filter. I removed the poly carbon pads and put an extra foam one in it's place, so it has foam and the biomax ceramic noodles. Just have to be patient I suppose.

Maureen]

 

[BethK]

Kick start your ammonia, either by adding or some people put in a bit of fish food.

 

[LondonguyJ]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but from what i understand filters never consistently achieve the flow rate advertised. I've seen this debated on a number of forums and I believe 60-70% is the general rule. your fluval has a max capacity of 90-150L which if the general rule is correct leaves you under-filtered. Ie takes you more than an hour to turn all the water in your tank. Which could extend the cycling process.

J

 

[Mo1959]

Actually thought about asking for the U4 rather than the U3 when I bought the tank. Gave it some thought and have ordered the u4. Shouldn't set things back too far as I can take some of the media from the U3 in case there is at least some bacteria build up in it.

 

[KAISER]

As previously stated, its not uncommon to wait the first two or three weeks with no ammonia drop. Keep testing though, it will happen, nature cant help itself!

The flow rate of a filter has little to do with how fast bacteria can process the waste, I believe. Its how big the filter is thats key. The bigger the filter, the bigger the media for the bacteria to grow.

 

[Mo1959]

Thanks Kaiser. I will just have to wait it out then. I see from your sig that you also have the Fluval Roma 125. Are you quite pleased with it?

 

[KAISER]

Yes I am pleased with it Mo, mine has been running for about a couple of months now. The biggest problem I seem to be facing now is deciding on stock! Its a popular tank, you will see a few members here who have it. I'm sticking with the U3 for now btw, I might start using a bigger filter further down the line, but I suppose that will depend on my final stocking

When you fit the new U4, transfer as much media from the U3 as you can. As you pointed out, just because you cant see the bacteria working yet, doesn't mean its not there!

 

[Mo1959]

I am quite fancying tetras and rasboras. I like the look of small fish shoaling together. I have two lonely neons in a biube just now and am looking forward to getting them some company when the larger tank is ready.

 

[KAISER]

Unfortunately, Neons are not very hardy. The Roma wont be suitable for them for about six months yet. When you do add them, add at least another four. Also when considering schooling fish, its better to have one large school of the same species rather than two or three small ones. I plan on Rummy nose tetra when my tank is old enough.

 

[LondonguyJ]

As previously stated, its not uncommon to wait the first two or three weeks with no ammonia drop. Keep testing though, it will happen, nature cant help itself!

The flow rate of a filter has little to do with how fast bacteria can process the waste, I believe. Its how big the filter is thats key. The bigger the filter, the bigger the media for the bacteria to grow.

From my understanding your filter should be capable of turning all the water in your tank at least once every hour. A U3 (if the 60-70% stated capacity rule holds true) can not turn 125l in an hour.

Initially I asked for the filter specs because I went through the same thing. I bought a filter that supposedly could turn my 125 in an hour and was totally inadequate. So I bought an ehiem 2215 which has a starting capacity of 125L and saw a dip in my ammonia within 24 which assured me my cycle had started.

@Mo

What are your most recent ammonia readings?

 

[OldMan47]

You can indeed filter a tank at far less than 1 turn per hour and have healthy fish. Until power filters were invented, we all used filters that only moved enough water to get a full turnover in 4 to 6 hours. The fish were as healthy then as they are now. I still run tanks with nothing but air driven box filters and have no trouble with them at all. What I have learned to do is to replace as much media in those filters with biomedia as I can. What I end up is with low flow rates that allow my fry to swim away from the filter inlet quite easily and bubbles for the fish to play in. The increase in biomedia means I can support more fish with a given filter size. My filters are marginal at anything but biological filtration but that is all I really expect them to do for me so it works out fine.

The current obsession with high filter flows certainly makes for good advertising for the power filter manufacturers but it does nothing for the health of the fishes.