Just started my first fishless cycle 6 days ago. Have a 165l tank, estimate that I have about 150l of water in it. To start off dosed 8ml of ammonia. Seeded with silk plant, decorative stone and some bio balls, which were all left in my old tank for about 4 to 6 weeks. Have turned the heater up to 29c. After 1st day ammonia was 5 nitrite was .25. Day 2 ammonia was 4 nitrite was .5. Day 3 ammonia still 4 nitrite 1. no change day 4, day 5 or today (day 6). I also tested my ph today which read 8 (same as my old tank).
Fishless Cycle
- Thread starter jkb1977
- Start date
ShinySideUp
Fish Herder
I'm no expert having only done fishless once but 8ml in 150 litres of water seems quite a lot. I'd let the ammonia drop to almost zero then dose with no more than 3ml of ammonia and again when it drops to almost zero, and so on. More ammonia than necessary just prolongs the cycling and your eventual fish load will never produce that much ammonia.
oh, how strange. everywhere I have read says to dose enough ammonia to get a reading of 4 or 5 ppm, which is what i did. I used the calculator on this website to work out how much to put in. I'm using kleenoff which is about 9% pure ammonia the rest water.
justin85
Fishaholic
Kleenoff is what I use and will work perfectly. 4ppm is just fine and won't slow the cycle down at all, some people do dose it up to 5ppm but I always do 4ppm and it works fine for me. I never use the calculators tho, Just use a medical syringe and add a little bit, wait 10 minutes then test and repeat till you get it to 4 ppm making sure to keep note of how much I put in for the next time I dose.
ShinySideUp
Fish Herder
Yes, I stand corrected. I have looked at the calculator and have done my own calculations and you are right to dose as you have initially. I may have been getting my wires crossed with the concentration of ammonia. Notwithstanding this though, it is my personal belief that even 5ppm is too much. When I cycled my 120 litre a few weeks ago I dosed to get 2.5 ppm of ammonia; I fully stocked my tank all at once and have had no problems.
Electric Warrior
Fishaholic
Don't worry too much. I am on day 45 and still haven't completely finished yet! 
Electric Warrior
Fishaholic
No, I didn't seed my tank with any mature media, because I didn't manage to get ahold of any. I just started by dosing ammonia. I am near the end, pretty much.... Ammonia is finally starting to clear within 12 hours, and nitrite is clearing in 12 hours as well. I just need this to happen for a consistent seven days, and then I will add the fish! I have heard os some people on here who had to cycle for about 2 months, so I am not too worried.
Glad you're nearly there 
I have been advised to do a 25% water change, which I have done. My readings are now as follows: Ammo - 2, trites - 2, trates - 10. Not sure when to dose next, should i wait to see if ammo falls then dose or dose now?
I have been advised to do a 25% water change, which I have done. My readings are now as follows: Ammo - 2, trites - 2, trates - 10. Not sure when to dose next, should i wait to see if ammo falls then dose or dose now?
Electric Warrior
Fishaholic
Glad you're nearly there
Yeah, don't dose any more ammonia until it falls to 0.
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